National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The saiga is a rare and endangered species listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan and the IUCN Red List. It inhabits the desert and semi-desert areas of Ustyurt, the eastern and southern Pre-Aral region, and the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea. In the past, it was numerous and also lived in the Kyzylkum desert, the Syrdarya river floodplain, including the flat part of the Fergana Valley. Since 1990, the population has declined by 99.5%. The number of migrating animals from the northern regions of Kazakhstan changes annually depending on weather conditions. The total number of the transboundary Ustyurt population in 2016 was 1,900 individuals. The number of saigas in the Pre-Aral region and on the former bed of the Aral Sea is around 200 individuals.

The Fact: The Aralkum National Nature Park was established in March 2022 in the Muynak district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. It is home to 25 species of animals, 4 of which are listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan. The most common animals of the Aral area are saiga antelopes.