saiga

[sahy-guh]

noun

1. a goatlike antelope, Saiga tatarica, of western Asia and eastern Russia, having a greatly enlarged muzzle.

saiga

/ ˈsaɪɡə /

noun

1. either of two antelopes, Saiga tatarica or S. mongolica, of the plains of central Asia, having an enlarged slightly elongated nose

Word History and Origins

Origin of saiga¹

1795–1805; (< New Latin ) < Russian saĭgá ( k ) < Turkic; compare Chagatai sayğak

Word History and Origins

Origin of saiga¹

C19: from Russian

Example Sentences

Finally, an unknown trigger turned a naturally occurring microbe in the saiga’s characteristic nose into a virulent pathogen, leading to the mass die-offs.

Read more on National Geographic

Herds of herbivores, including endangered saiga antelopes and Przewalski’s horses, roam in the Askania-Nova preserve, which is currently occupied by Russian forces, he said.

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The saiga has seen a dramatic turnaround in fortunes.

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“When the temperature gets really hot, and the air gets really wet, saiga die. Climate is the trigger, Pasteurella is the bullet.”

Read more on Washington Post

The court also sentenced four others to six years each for poaching saiga, a critically endangered species whose horns are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Read more on Reuters