Prof. Arylov and students.

In 2000, the Government of the Republic of Kalmykia established the ‘Centre for Wild Animals of Kalmykia’ in order to preserve the siaga antelope, granting the Centre 800ha of pristine grassland for the construction of enclosures, an observation tower, a small house for living of animal keepers and a research laboratory to develop a programme of saiga captivity breeding.

The project aims to maintain the functioning of the Saiga Breeding Centre based at the Centre for Wild Animals of Kalmykia at Ermeli which is safe-guarding the North West pre-Caspian population of the critical endangered saiga antelope.