Written by Scarlet
Researchers believe they have found the reason behind the mass die-off of Saiga antelope over two years ago.
Back in May 2015, over 200,000 Saiga antelope in Mongolia died suddenly in the space of just three weeks. These critically endangered creatures represented over 80 percent of the local population, which itself counts for around 60 percent of the world's population.
The illness was fast acting, with symptoms showing just hours before death. They were suffering from both blood poisoning and internal bleeding. To make matters worse the outbreak occurred during the Saiga's birthing season, leading to many unborn babies and orphaned kids. You may remember hearing about it if you watched Planet Earth II back in 2016.
Previous suggestions of acute ruminal tympany, also known as bloat, had been dismissed and despite best efforts, a team sent by the United Nations were unable to find a cause.
The answer was found by Dr Richard A. Kock, of the Royal Veterinary College in London. He and his team found a connection between increased stormy spring weather and the bacteria, Pasteurella multocida. While Pasteurella multocida had been suspected as the culprit scientists were baffled as to why a previously harmless bacteria had so suddenly become deadly to all it infected. The bacteria is found naturally in the antelope's tonsils and it has never been deadly.
“I had never seen anything like it, it was very concerning because it was so unnatural, outside of the realm of my experience.” Dr Kock has said.
"If everything dies, the bacteria doesn’t benefit, the host doesn’t benefit. It doesn’t make biological sense,” The team found that in this outbreak and in previous outbreaks the area's humidity was higher than normal, as was the average minimum daily temperatures. Why such conditions increase the deadliness of the bacterium is still unclear. Unfortunately, with that part of the world being affected by climate change and steadily heating up we may see more outbreaks in the future.
The Saiga Conservation Alliance, which seeks to protect the remaining Antelope, explain that it is not just climate change threatening them.
"Saigas are under threat for several reasons; they are increasingly hunted for their meat and valuable horns, which are believed to have medicinal purposes. Oil and gas exploration and transportation, as well as the laying of new road and rail infrastructures, are hindering saiga migrations and impeding access to traditional pastures, many of which are being threatened by increasing livestock numbers." With the Saiga population crashing 95 percent in the last 15 years it can only be hoped that this new research helps save them. You can find more about their work here.
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