Massimov discussed saiga mortality in western Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Prime-Minister Karim Massimov asked about situation with saiga dieing in West Kazakhstan oblast during the today's conference call meeting of the Kazakhstan government, Tengrinews.kz reports. Prime-Minister asked Akim (Governor) of West-Kazakhstan oblast Baktykozha Izmukhambetov about the situation around mass mortality of saiga. Akim replied that mortality occurred at the same place and almost at the same time as last year. “This is probably pasteurellosis" same as last year, said the Akim. "But the probability is high that there has been mass saiga poisoning through flora, i.e. grass,” Izmukhambetov said. As per Akim, Kazakh and Russian scientists are currently working in the ares investigating into the cause of saiga death. He mentioned once again, that “all signs point to poisoning.” Massimov also asked the Minister of Agriculture Assylzhan Mamytbekov whether the Ministry is in control of the situation. The Minister replied that the Ministry has the same information as the oblast Akim. “Samples taken from dead animals were sent to different institutes,” the Minister said. As per Mamytbekov, 11,920 animals died last year and most of them died shortly after fawning. On May 27 citizens of West Kazakhstan oblast reported discovery of 100 dead saigas in Zhanibek region of the oblast. Later the Ministry of Emergency Situations said that 200 saigas were found dead. The animals died in the same area as in 2010. “As per our forecasts, the number is not going to grow this year,” Mamytbekov summed up at the meeting.