Prince William highlights Kazakhstan saiga antelope recovery

During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Prince William praised Kazakhstan’s success in restoring the saiga antelope population. He credited the Kazakh government for providing significant support to the species, which has recovered from critically endangered status to large numbers.

The Altyn Dala conservation initiative, a recipient of the 2024 Earthshot Prize in the Protect and Restore Nature category, has been central to this recovery. According to Earthshot, the initiative has helped the saiga population grow from approximately 40,000 to over four million over two decades, following steep declines caused by disease and poaching.

In addition to protecting saiga breeding and feeding grounds, the Altyn Dala initiative works to restore steppe ecosystems and has assisted in returning endangered Przewalski’s horses to Kazakhstan. The project involves collaboration between the Kazakh government, the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan, and international partners.