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Sonia Dhanda1, Elena Bykova2, E.J.
Milner-Gulland3,2
1. Imperial College London, sonia.k.dhanda@gmail.com;
2. Saiga Conservation Alliance; 3. Oxford University
Introduction
Carlyn Samuel, Saiga Conservation Alliance, mail@saiga-conservation.com
This year we are pleased to be supporting three exciting
projects proposed by local conservationists within the saiga
range.
Carlyn Samuel, Saiga Conservation Alliance, mail@saiga-conservation.com
The SCA recognises that it is imperative to support the next
generation of conservationists, and so with our Young Conservation
Leaders award we aim to support aspiring conservationists
(individuals or groups) with grants which allow them to carry out
grass-roots conservation projects, and receive mentoring from SCA
in-country partners. The 2016 awards are generously supported by Wildlife Conservation Network
and we are pleased to be able to announce the winners.
Vladimir Kalmykov: The best part of my work is the
tranquility of the Stepnoi sanctuary
Today we recognise Vladimir Kalmykov, Director of the Stepnoi
sanctuary, and ask him some questions about his life with saigas.
He is the head of one of the best saiga conservation teams, was the
first state inspector in the sanctuary and participated in its
creation. For his contribution to this work, which has completely
absorbed all his life, Vladimir Kalmykov has been given awards by
the Astrakhan regional government more than once. His team also won
an award for Excellence in Anti-poaching from the Saiga
Conservation Alliance.
Editor: When did you first become interested in
saigas?
In memory of Nikolai Tkachyov
On 28th-29th August 2017, the Russian Academy of Science's
Institute of Ecology & Evolution, San Diego Zoo and the Saiga
Conservation Alliance hosted a two-day workshop to exchange
knowledge and develop a strategic plan regarding the role of
specialist captive breeding centres in saiga conservation.
Representatives of the saiga range states - Russia, Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan, China and Mongolia - participated in the
meeting. The workshop was also attended by the officials from
the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia,
European and American zoos, and international conservation NGOs
including IFAW, WCS and WWF.
'To meet saigas was a great piece of luck and a good sign for me!' - A. Salemgareyev
Albert Salemgareyev is Technical Coordinator of the Altyn Dala Environmental Protection Initiative under the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK). He started work with this organization as a project assistant in 2007 when he was a student.
The editor of Saiga News interviews Albert Salemgareyev
Albert's research interests embrace informatics, biodiversity, hiking, bird-watching, photography and video filming (which turned into his profession.)