Historical range, extirpation and prospects for reintroduction of saigas in China

Abstract

An assessment of historical distribution patterns and potential reintroduction sites is important for reducing the risk of reintroduction failure of endangered species. The saiga antelope, Saiga tatarica, was extirpated in the mid-20th century in China. A captive population was established in the Wuwei Endangered Wildlife Breeding Centre (WEWBC) in the 1980s. Reintroduction is planned, but so far, no action has been taken. In this study, we delineated the historical distribution and potential reintroduction areas of saigas in China, using a literature review, interviews and predictive modelling. Results suggest that most of the seasonally suitable areas are non-overlapping, and China may have been a peripheral part of the main saiga range. WEWBC is not an ideal reintroduction site due to its low habitat suitability. Furthermore, we infer that two different movement patterns existed historically (regular migration and nomadic wandering). Our results demonstrate the challenges of restoring a free-ranging, self-sustaining saiga population in China. We recommend the setting up of additional breeding centres in protected areas within the potential saiga range in Xinjiang, and the development of a national action plan to provide a framework for the future recovery of the species.

A prediction for the possibility of the transboundry import of Peste des petits ruminants in western China by validation of transboundry transmission paths

“…In 2018 in Xinjiang the 3 parallel border separation fences were built (Liu et al, 2020), which severely restricted the transboundary migration of wildlife and grazing of livestock, and to some extent, it is beneficial to the control the spreading of PPR (Cui et al, 2017). However, from the experience of the construction and lesson of damaging of the border fences in northeast border of China, it is impossible to build a large-scale border separation fences without any escape intervals for wildlife, even in the hilly and plain areas such as the northeastern China; secondly, in some special environments, such as rivers which can not be completely enclosed and remain for wildlife migration; Finally, the capability to damage fences of wild animals can not be ignored, such as the usual seen damage of boar to the border fences.…”

“…Planting and animal husbandry are the main local production mode, and there are bilateral cross-border grazing. It has been reported that Saiga antelopes which widely distributed in Kazakhstan migrates to the north and south twice a year, and they migrate to Xinjiang, China through Kazakhstan to give birth, which also provides the possibility for PPR cross-border transmission (Cui et al, 2017, Bekenov et al, 2010. The cross-border paths a.b.c enters China from the west of Pamir Plateau.…”

Changes in the Historical and Current Habitat Ranges of Rare Wild Mammals in China: A Case Study of Six Taxa of Small- to Large-Sized Mammals

“…Boshoff, Kerley et al [12,13] used the historical occurrences and ecological requirements of 42 medium-to large-sized mammals to estimate their potential distributions. Cui, Milnergulland et al [14] focused on the assessment of the historical distribution and migration patterns of the saiga antelope, Saiga tatarica, to determine potential reintroduction sites.…”

Demography and social dynamics of an African elephant population 35 years after reintroduction as juveniles

“…The reintroduction of species to areas from which they have been historically extirpated is an increasingly relevant conservation tool (Seddon, Griffiths, Soorae, & Armstrong, 2014). Studies that evaluate the success of such introductions from different vantage points (socio-economic, ecological and biological) are therefore essential (Cui et al, 2017;Seddon et al, 2014). Elephants are charismatic, long-lived, socially complex and ecologically influential.…”