The most spectacular nose on Earth undoubtedly belongs to the Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica). A migratory life on the dusty Russian/Kazakh steppe makes such a feature vital to protect their respiratory system.
While historically ubiquitous in the region, poaching and disease have greatly impacted populations during the 20th century.
In 2015, a strain of Pasteurella bacteria caused the mass death of 120,000 Saiga - 1/3 of the global population - in the space of just a few weeks (pictured above). The trigger for the epidemic remains under heated debate.
Like many other critically endangered species, human factors such as poaching and climate change threaten their existence, but it is not too late to protect these animals from extinction. Conservation efforts led by the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) and Frankfurt Zoological Society aim to ensure long term Saiga survival.
Image Credit: Klaus Nigge, Steffen Zuther.
