Why did 60,000 endangered antelopes in Kazakhstan die in 4 days?

In 2014, a country had 257,000 saigas, but now only half remain. Field workers collected samples from the environment to understand the decline. Necropsies showed females and calves were most affected, likely due to toxins from bacteria like pasteurella and clostridia, which caused organ bleeding. Normally harmless, these bacteria became deadly due to weakened immune systems, possibly from a harsh winter and wet spring that facilitated bacterial spread.

What was the saiga population in 2014, and what is it now?

• 100,000 in 2014, now 50,000

• 257,000 in 2014, now 128,500

• 500,000 in 2014, now 250,000

• 300,000 in 2014, now 150,000

What did field workers collect to understand the saiga population decline?

• DNA samples from predators

• Blood samples from saigas

• Samples of rocks, soil, water, and vegetation

• Air samples from the habitat

Which group of saigas was most affected by the decline?

• Male saigas

• Young male saigas

• Female saigas and their calves

• Old saigas

What did scientists suspect was transmitting the disease to the saigas?

• Contaminated water

• Mother's milk

• Airborne pathogens

• Infected vegetation

What environmental conditions possibly contributed to the spread of bacteria?

• A hot summer and dry autumn

• A cold winter followed by a wet spring

• A dry summer and mild winter

• A warm winter and rainy summer