The main factor in the extinction of the saiga is poachers involved in the illegal domestic and international trade in products obtained from this species. As a rule, the main item of smuggling is saiga horns, which are of particular value. Since only males have horns, when they are exterminated, a gender imbalance occurs, entailing irreparable damage to the restoration of the population.
In addition, an important factor in the extinction of saigas is unregulated hunting, the construction of irrigation canals, roads and structures that disturb their habitat and impede the natural distribution and migration of the species, leading to a reduction in the population of the steppe antelope.
It is worth noting the economic factor influencing the size of the saiga population - this is a decrease in the standard of living of the local population and poor planning of land use, which entails irreparable damage to the steppe antelope - saiga. Only with cooperation at the national and international levels can the conservation and sustainable use of saigas be achieved.