Smahol' V. The population-ecological features of saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica tatarica L.) in the reserve «Askania Nova»

The theoretical and practical material on re-acclimatization and artificial breeding of the saiga antelope in the reserve «Askania Nova» is given in the thesis. The thesis summarizes the population-ecological features of saiga in the conditions of semi-free keeping in the south of Ukraine. The number dynamics of this species since the end of the XIX century until now days has been studied. It has been defined six main reacclimatization periods that corresponding to the successive stages of increasing and decreasing of the population, till its complete disappearance. The saiga breeding is analyzed in detail; the morphological characteristic of gonads and the passage of sex processes in different seasons are presented. The weight and linear growth, development of internal organs, craniological indices and development of saigas' horns were studied. A trophy assessment of the horns was done. The techn ology of hand-reared growth of young animals using different methods of maintenance is improved. It was established that the average index of growth of the present Askanian saiga population is twice lower than the natural population of saiga has in Kalmykia. The indicators of reproductive ability of Askanian saiga population do not almost differ from those indexes of this animal species in the modern habitat. It was established that the adult saigas of Askanian population slightly concede animals of Kalmyk population on indicators of body weight; they have longer and massive body but shorter legs than Kalmyks' saigas have. According to the craniometrical indices the craniums of the Askanian saiga population are significantly exceed such indices of the animals of Kalmyk population. It was marked the changes of morphometric parameters of Askanian saiga population in comparison with animals from Kalmyk population are connected with inbreeding, the nature of fodder and the conditions of keeping in a limited territory. The average assessment of the trophy quality of Saiga horns of the Ascanian population has the highest score. The use of improved techniques of the artificial hand-reared growth of saiga and its further settling creates the preconditions for implementation of the strategy for the species conservation.