Saiga antelope die-off

[Paul in Idaho]

Since some here are interested in conservation issues around the world, here's an article from the NY Times:

The saiga, a critically endangered Asian antelope species, has been decimated by a mysterious, fast-moving disease. In the past two weeks, more than third of all saigas have been killed, conservationists have found.

The cause of the outbreak is unknown, but scientists believe it is always fatal.

“I’m flustered looking for words here,” said Joel Berger, a senior scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society. “To lose 120,000 animals in two or three weeks is a phenomenal thing.”

from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/science/saiga-antelope-mystery-disease-die-off.html

I can't imagine such a sudden collapse of a population. I wonder what they will find?

 

[shoots-straight]

Sounds eerily similar to our Big Horn sheep die offs.

The scientists found that the animals were infected with two species of deadly bacteria, Pasteurella and Clostridium. But Dr. Kock is convinced that the bacteria are not the fundamental cause of the die-off.