Saiga Antelopes Look Like Adorable Star Wars Characters!

A critically endangered species that originally had a range that spread from the Eurasian Steppe all the way to North America, the Saiga Antelope is now only found in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Western Mongolia. However, when you do come across a Saiga, you’re in for a real treat, because their calves look like adorable little aliens! Used to filter dust in the summer and heat up frigid air in the winter, this antelope’s ultra flexible nose is its most distinctive feature, and reminds most people of something they’d see in “Star Wars” or on the SyFy Channel. Although they’re out of this world cute, Saiga calves are just like many other babies of many other species, born after about 150 days of gestation in litters of just one or two, and living on a diet (after weening from its mother’s milk of course) of grass, lichens, herbs, and shrubs. Although there are less than 50 thousand specimens of this particular and peculiar antelope left in the world, the remaining members still take part in a migration season that is considered to be one of the most spectacular sights in all of nature. Tens of thousands of Saiga migrate together every summer, combining individual herds of only 40-50 members to create one huge group filled with love and adorable babies! Due to their low population numbers, the Saiga are protected by various conservation and re-population efforts. With any luck, we will see the Saiga population thrive someday, so that we can appreciate them for years to come.