Donate today to keep Saiga rangers warm and mobile
Rangers play a vital and often unseen role in wildlife conservation. From tracking migrations to deterring poaching, they are the first, and sometimes only, line of defence for endangered species. The saiga antelope is no exception. Its survival depends on the dedication, resilience, and courage of rangers who patrol vast steppe and desert landscapes in extreme weather and isolation.
The Saiga Conservation Alliance (SCA) deeply admires and respects these “boots on the ground”. The men and women who spend weeks in the wilderness, guided by an unwavering love for the wild places they protect. Rangers safeguard saigas, monitor their movements, study their habitats, and engage with the communities who share their landscapes.
Their work is physically demanding, emotionally challenging, and vital to conservation success.
Since 2015, SCA has provided direct support to rangers in the Stepnoi Sanctuary in Russia, and since 2016, to rangers in Saigachiy Reserve and Aralkum National Park in Uzbekistan. This support has ranged from life-saving equipment to training, infrastructure, and winter gear. Over the years, SCA has helped deliver:
- insulated ranger stations
- binoculars and night-vision equipment
- protective uniforms, jackets, trousers and gloves
- winter boots and cold-weather clothing
- camera traps and field monitoring training
- technical support through reserve restructuring
- off-road patrol vehicles and field gear
Due to the current geopolitical situation and international restrictions, SCA is unable to provide direct support to Stepnoi rangers at this time. We remain in close communication with partners and hope to resume support when conditions allow. Their commitment has not wavered, and neither has ours.
In Uzbekistan, SCA has supported Saigachiy and Aralkum rangers continuously for nearly a decade. Rangers have received training in camera-trap monitoring, population tracking, and field survey methods, greatly improving long-term saiga monitoring and habitat assessment.
In 2025, donor support helped SCA deliver 35 winter uniforms and durable boots for rangers in Aralkum National Park as well as an all-wheel-drive cargo ATV/dump truck for Saigachiy Reserve to expand patrol reach across challenging terrain. These upgrades directly improve ranger safety, mobility, and comfort; allowing them to operate effectively during the harsh winter months and across remote desert landscapes.
Thanks to our incredible donors and partners, rangers across Uzbekistan are warm, equipped, and on the move, protecting saigas at a time when their habitats are rapidly changing. Together, we continue to lift up the frontline defenders of the saiga antelope—and ensure that the steppes remain safe for one of the world’s most extraordinary species.