#singapore🇸🇬at

[xtruss]

A Male Saiga Antelope in Russia's Black Land National Park. These highly social antelope live in herds. Photograph By Valeriy Malee/Nature Picture Library

This Floppy-Nosed Antelope Was Nearly Gone. 20 Years Later, It’s Thriving.

Less than a decade ago, more than half of the world’s saiga antelope were lost to a mysterious disease. Its comeback is a rare and phenomenal conservation success.

— By Jason Bittel | December 14, 2023

Just two decades ago, it seemed as if we might need to write a eulogy for the saiga antelope.

Cut down by widespread poaching and waves of disease, by 2003, just 6 percent of the floppy-nosed ungulates remained in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, and Uzbekistan.

But today, scientists are rejoicing at the saiga’s unlikely rebound.

There are now 1.9 million saiga antelope across Eurasia, according to the most recent estimates released this week. So many saiga, in fact, that the International Union for Conservation of Nature is upgrading the Red List status for the species from critically endangered to near threatened.

“There's a lot of conservation doom and gloom, and there isn't very much attention paid to conservation successes,” says E.J. Milner-Gulland, a conservation scientist at the University of Oxford and co-founder of the U.K-based Saiga Conservation Alliance. “It’s quite a vindication of 20 years of hard work by lots of people.”

To get a sense of just how far this species has come, in 2015, more than half of the worldwide population of saiga antelope were lost to a mysterious blood disease.

“This is phenomenal news,” says Joel Berger, an ecologist at Colorado State University and a senior scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society, in an email.

“At a time when so many species and populations are in deep swan dives, to witness the recovery of saiga—a species deserving of more recognition in its own right—is something we all need to celebrate,” he says.

Male Saiga Antelope Battle in Black Lands National Park. Males and their horns are a specific target of poachers. Photograph By Valeriy Malee/Nature Picture Library

The Saiga’s Downward Spiral

Those who have been paying attention to the saiga’s saga know that it’s been a wild ride.

“Twenty years ago, it had the fastest increase in threat status of any mammal,” says Milner-Gulland. “The population had plummeted by more than 90 percent over a really short time of a few years, so it went straight in at critically endangered.”

As for what happened, Milner-Gulland explains that the saiga’s downfall can be attributed to several factors. For starters, saiga horn has great value in China, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia as a component in traditional medicine. And this demand, coupled with the breakup of the Soviet Union, led to a dramatic rise in hunting.

It’s a Symbol of the Wild Steppe, of Independence and Freedom.

— E.J. Milner-Gulland, Conservation Scientist at the University of Oxford

“The economies of these countries basically collapsed,” she says. “And they were living in very harsh conditions on the steppe. So they turned to poaching.”

Fencing along the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan also put a barrier in the middle of the saiga’s migratory route, while infrastructure development cut into saiga habitat. Finally, an unknown trigger turned a naturally occurring microbe in the saiga’s characteristic nose into a virulent pathogen, leading to the mass die-offs.

It’s for all these reasons that the IUCN has chosen not to de-list the saiga completely.

“The near threatened category is right for the saiga, because we know that at any time, we could just get large numbers of them dropping dead again,” says Milner-Gulland. “They are very vulnerable.”

A Path to Recovery

Just as the threats to the saiga were multi-faceted, so too have been the efforts to protect the species, which are important seed dispersers and grazers that contribute to plant biodiversity.

For instance, an international collaboration between countries where saigas roam, countries that traditionally consume saiga products, and other stakeholder nations, including the United States, led to a memorandum of understanding in 2006 to conserve the species, restore its habitat, and restrict harvest to a sustainable level.

For its part, Kazakhstan’s government focused on stronger anti-poaching measures, including law enforcement to prevent saiga hunting. The Saiga Conservation Alliance supplied financing for gasoline, uniforms, motorbikes, and shelters for those rangers, who live in the harsh, windswept grasslands. Customs agents also improved detection of saiga products leaving the country as part of the illicit wildlife trade. Lastly, the country designated multiple protected areas totaling more than 12 million acres of saiga antelope habitat.

Now that economic conditions have leveled out and local people don’t have to choose between their own survival and saving saiga, there has also been a dramatic shift in support for the species.

“The thing about saiga is the local people really love it,” says Milner-Gulland. “It’s a symbol of the wild steppe, of independence and freedom.”

Saiga (Drinking on Southern Russia's Astrakhan Steppe) can migrate up to 600 miles over summer and winter. Photograph By Valeriy Malee/Nature Picture Library

[syedahmedsabrina]

Travel Summer in Singapore 🇸🇬 09/05/2024

[historixally-accurate]

i was looking through twitter and randomly noticed this, like mcsr is such a niche community. what are the chances someone from this ALREADY niche community also lives in my smallass country AND is also a talkingmime liker? im fighting the urge to dox myself right now /j 发疯了

????!?! SINGAPOREAN TALKINGMIMER?? dox yourself. /j

anyway. hi. 3 in eleventy billion singaporeans are in the mcsr community. giggles. ^-^

I don't bite... we can chit chat. 🦅

[carronyaflowers]

singapore chaos brought to you by the lizard yeeted off track by nando. you may be gone but your spirit lives on, you're making your father, godzilla, proud

[hananoami]

Take part in activities at Infold Games Booth A17 to win official Love & Deepspace merchandise!

🎟 Get tickets via https://animefestival.asia/csf2024/ticketing/

AFA Creators Super Fest Singapore 2024 📅 27-28 July 📍 Singapore Expo Hall 3 🌐 https://animefestival.asia/csf2024/

[mayday396]

It's 9TH OF AUGUST

HAPPY NATIONAL DAY SINGAPORE 🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬����🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬

We gained Independence on this Day! We got kicked out by Malaya but oh well look at us now!

ALSO SUCK ON THAT WE HAVE A MERLION AS OUR NATIONAL SYMBOL, YOU'RE STUCK WITH A TIGER MALAYSIA.

Tourists! I hope you're enjoying Singapore, I recommend visiting Fort Canning where the Old Kingdom of Singapura used to sit.

Locals and Historians don't like to admit it but our Country was founded in the 14th Century.

GO VISIT THERE AND HAPPY NATIONAL DAY

[moobrvoobl-moobmoob-oobmpoobroom]

reminder to my fellow singaporeans to vote today!!!

[engioc]

Photographed this Olive-Backed Sunbird on my recent trip to Singapore. #singaporebotanicgardens #singapore #singapore🇸🇬 #swanlake #botanicgarden #garden #landscapesofinstagram #nature #naturelover💚 #naturelovers #landscapes #asia #2023 #singapure #singapore_insta #ilovesingapore #olivebackedsunbird #birds #bird #birdsofsingapore #singaporenature #birdphotography #birdsofinstagram #birdlovers #wildlifephotographer #nikon #venusoptics100mm (at Singapore Botanic Gardens) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPx6gPvY2y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thinkingsmart]

Aaron 🦊 18202 When you reach the end of your rope .. it is time to tie a knot .. then hang on. 💫💚💫   https://ift.tt/Ux7om2X

[islifearecipe]

The Death of Pie and Mash Shops? Please don't let it happen. Support our Pie and Mash and Eel Shops

[140445ism]

most inexpicable lestappen interaction for me is pre-race singapore 2019. You just know he was dying to talk to charles (for whatever reason... so let us hear you, max). There's no other explanation. And he wants to talk to him so bad he makes him look stupid: first thing he thinks of is to ask about the flag. Known flag expert can't see the difference between singapore and monaco flag. Yeah sure, max. (And actually charles doesn't know his own flag, since he uses the indonesian one as emoji all the time 😂)

Max, geography expert, trying to flirt: Charles... hey Charles... CHARLES!!! IS THAT THE MONACO FLAG???

Charles, perfectly oblivious, knows like 3 flags at most: Oh hiiii Max, well you see 😅this one has stars 🤩 and a crescent thing 🌙 and Monaco's flag doesn't!

Max, loudly, embarrassingly: OH RIGHT!!!! 🤤😍 *omg he looked at me!*

Lewis: *looking around desperately for an escape route*

[xtruss]

Compare the Wealth of World Countries in Sputnik's Infographic

Gross National Income data offers a clear picture of a country's overall income, guiding policymakers in shaping economic strategies. It also helps compare nations' economic health and informs decisions on international aid and development efforts.

Gross National Income (GNI) is the total amount of money earned by a country's people and businesses, both within the country and abroad, over a specific period, usually a year. It includes all the wages, profits, and taxes generated by citizens and companies, whether the income comes from inside the country or from other countries. Essentially, GNI measures the financial health of a nation by looking at how much money its people and businesses make.

In simpler terms, GNI shows how much a country is earning overall. It includes not only the money made from goods and services produced within the country but also money from international investments or work done by citizens living abroad. GNI is often used to understand a country’s wealth and can be a key factor in comparing the prosperity of different nations.

GNI per capita is a measure that divides a country's GNI by its population, giving an average income per person. It reflects the average amount of money each person in a country makes, including income from both domestic and international sources. This figure helps to compare the standard of living and economic well-being of individuals in different countries, as it gives an idea of how wealth is distributed across the population.

According to the World Bank, the top 5 countries with the highest Gross National Income per capita are: Singapore ($118,710), Qatar ($116,870), Norway ($108,790), Ireland ($98,650), and Luxembourg ($98,490).

Take a look at Sputnik's infographics showing the countries with the highest and lowest Gross National Income:

[singerboyvids]

Mikey Robinson ~ Dein laues Auge |J.Brahms| [Singapore 🇸🇬]

[knowledgenook]

Social Science Classes in Singapore: Delve into the complexities of human society and behavior with thought-provoking social science classes offered in Singapore. From anthropology and sociology to political science and geography, our classes provide a deep understanding of societal issues and dynamics.

[hananoami]

Infold Games will be at AFA Creators Super Fest Singapore 2024 as an Exhibitor!

Infold Games is the company that brings us interactive game Love and Deepspace. As the brand new installment of the popular Mr. Love series, Love and Deepspace allows you to step into a sci-fi world where love knows no bounds. With immersive cutscenes, 3D storylines and interactions, love is truly within reach!

🎟 Tickets now available! Get yours via https://animefestival.asia/csf2024/ticketing/

AFA Creators Super Fest Singapore 2024 📅 27-28 July 2024 📍 Singapore Expo Hall 3 🌐 https://animefestival.asia/csf2024/

[scamsyndicate]

I paint my Singapore 60 meter painting by Yip Yew Chong

https://scamsyndicate.com/

#kretaayer

#牛车水

#ipaintmysingapore

#yipyewchong

#叶耀宗

#rafflescity

#莱佛士城商场

#singapore🇸🇬

#新加坡

#mural

#壁画

#graffiti

#涂鸦

#streetart

#街头艺术

#signseeing

#观光快艇