Find the culprit causing 200,000 Saiga antelope to die in a month

Scientists have found a kind of seemingly harmless bacterium, but it is the main reason why 200,000 chamois are destroyed. In May 2015, a strange phenomenon surprised the wildlife conservationists when a large number of rare Saiga antelopes suddenly died.

Find out why the antelope died massively

Accordingly, up to 80% of the antelope in Kazakhstan has been destroyed in a few weeks, culminating in 60,000 individuals died within four days. However, recently scientists have begun to have a clue to this phenomenon.

Saiga antelope with a characteristic giant nose.

Scientists believe the culprit is two harmless bacteria in the animal body - Pasteurella multocida and Clostridia , but somehow become a dangerous poison. According to some tests, toxins from bacteria were found on the antelope. This toxic substance causes the animal's body to be bleeding heavily, causing death.

A series of antelopes were mysteriously killed.

However, the real reason that this type of bacteria becomes so dangerous is still controversial for scientists. According to genetic analysis, these two types of bacteria are normally not harmful. Even if the antelope's immune system decreases, their chances of dying are not high.

1. The mystery caused 85,000 Saiga antelope deaths

According to Carlyn Samuel from the Saiga Antelope Conservation Society: 'The antelope has the ability to become hemolytic , often caused by the B group Pasteurella multocida. This group of bacteria is often found in the respiratory tract of antelopes and some other animals'.

The number of dead antelopes amounted to 60,000 individuals in just 4 days.

Samuel also said: 'Saiga antelopes can also be infected with Clostridium bacteria. On some antelope bodies, this bacterium has released extremely dangerous toxins pumped directly into the bloodstream, which may have caused a mass of dead antelopes. However, the reason why these two bacteria suddenly become so dead is still being investigated. '

According to a number of government announcements, a mass of dead antelope took place from May to June, killing 148,000 individuals. However, scientists say the actual number could reach 200,000.

Scientists are still actively investigating the cause of two types of bacteria becoming "poisonous" . Soil tests, water sources and radiation levels in the area all produce normal results.

Currently the number of leftover antelopes is quite low.

Some people make the hypothesis that the cold winter has weakened the antelope's immune system, while creating perfect conditions for bacteria to thrive. In addition, Steffen Zuther - an ecologist at the Atlyn Dala Conservation Institute, toxic algae or poisonous plants are also a possible cause of mass death of antelopes.

EJ Milner - Gulland, a conservationist at Imperial College London, said: 'Understanding the cause now is a top priority. Currently there are only about 3 to 4 herds of antelopes, in very low numbers. If this is not resolved soon, antelopes can become extinct in the near future. "

If not soon find out the cause of the strong activity of the bacteria, the possibility of future extinction is huge.

Saiga antelopes are included in the list of species to be conserved since 1990, after the number of species declined to below 21,000 individuals. By 2014, the number of antelope in Kazkhstan is estimated to be around 257,000, along with some herds in Russia and Mongolia. However, massive mass deaths this year have reduced the number of antelope to serious levels.