Project
Supporting Stepnoi Sanctuary
Stepnoi Sanctuary in Russia’s Astrakhan region has long provided an important refuge for saigas of the north-west Pre-Caspian population. Protecting wildlife across this vast steppe landscape depends heavily on the people working there every day. Rangers need reliable vehicles, fuel, equipment, functioning field infrastructure, and the capacity to respond to threats including poaching, fire, and the practical challenges of managing a remote protected area.
SCA’s support for Stepnoi focused on these practical needs. Working directly with sanctuary staff, we helped strengthen anti-poaching patrols, maintain and repair vehicles, provide fuel, improve ranger facilities, and support fire-prevention work. Assistance also extended to maintaining artesian wells and other infrastructure important for wildlife and reserve management. In 2018, this support enabled rangers to increase regular patrols, improve their living and working conditions, maintain wells, and carry out fire-prevention activities.
The relationship went beyond equipment. SCA helped connect Stepnoi’s rangers with local communities and young people through awareness activities, visits, and the Steppe Wildlife Club network. Children were able to visit the sanctuary, learn directly from rangers, help with practical conservation activities, and experience saigas in the landscape they were learning to protect.
Over several years, SCA’s role was therefore to help the people protecting Stepnoi do their jobs more effectively. By responding to practical needs, supporting ranger capacity, and connecting protection with public engagement, the programme strengthened day-to-day conservation for saigas and the wider steppe ecosystem.
With thanks to our funders
This work has been supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network, the Centre for Conservation of Tropical Ungulates, Thin Green Line Foundation, and the Beagle Charitable Foundation.
Project partners
This work was carried out in partnership with Stepnoi Sanctuary staff and rangers, alongside conservation and education partners in the Astrakhan region.
Outcomes
26
Additional regular anti-poaching patrols supported by SCA in 2018
7
Steppe Wildlife Clubs Supported in Russia in 2022, with some club activities directly involving protected areas and rangers.
Year by year
Key project milestones
Explore the project’s journey over time. Click each year to discover key activities, developments, and milestones.
SCA continued to support Stepnoi’s rangers with equipment, supplies, communications, and fundraising, helping sustain day-to-day protection in a remote and demanding landscape. By 2023, changes in the wider operating context meant that SCA was no longer able to continue its Russia-based activities.
Steppe Wildlife Clubs continued to connect young people with Stepnoi. Club members visited the sanctuary, learned from rangers, helped collect litter and carry out small repairs, and took part in conservation activities. In 2022, children visiting protected areas in Russia also participated in the release of young saigas from a breeding centre.
SCA secured further funding for ranger support at Stepnoi, alongside support for Saigachiy Reserve in Uzbekistan. This enabled continued investment in equipment, supplies, and practical ranger capacity for protecting saigas and their habitat.
Stepnoi rangers also used the support to engage local children and visitors. Awareness activities included leaflets, guided visits, and opportunities for young people to learn directly about saigas and the work required to protect the sanctuary.
Support helped Stepnoi’s inspectors maintain and repair vehicles, purchase fuel, and increase patrol coverage. Rangers were able to carry out 26 additional regular patrols, improve their field accommodation, maintain artesian wells, install reserve signage, and undertake fire-prevention work including clearing roads and maintaining firebreaks.
SCA provided support to Stepnoi Sanctuary’s ranger team as part of its wider work to strengthen anti-poaching capacity across the saiga range. Funding was directed towards the practical needs of the people responsible for protecting saigas in the sanctuary.
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