In the Saratov Region, farmers are facing an invasion of saiga antelopes from Kazakhstan

Farmers in Russia's Saratov region, which borders Kazakhstan, have appealed to President Vladimir Putin for help in combating the saiga antelope invasion that migrated from Kazakhstan and devastated their fields, Reuters reports. "Our problem lies in the uncontrolled growth of the saiga population, which has exceeded 1 million individuals," the farmers stated, noting that the animals are damaging crops, pastures, and agricultural lands. Moreover, the animals are drowning while crossing rivers, creating an environmental problem. In a separate letter to Putin, signed by the heads of leading farms in the region and obtained by Reuters, it is stated that crop damage from saigas is not covered by insurance because the animal has not yet been included in the list of agricultural pests. The Saratov Region Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday that it has created a commission to assess damage and is developing a mechanism to support farmers. Incidentally, Saratov, located on the ...