Endangered Saiga Antelopes return: This funny looking antelope species survived the Ice Age!

We did not expect this sight. In front of us, thousands of saigas roam through the steppe. Saigas are the only antelopes in Europe. They are nomads of the grassland plains. Restless, the saigas move about, eating as they go, although there is plenty of green grass to linger on. Saiga bucks are poached for their horns because Asians believe that they are a miracle cure that restores potency. The calves have to keep up. Only a few hours after birth, saiga calves have to move along with the restless herd, even if it's sometimes difficult. Around 1920, this species was on the edge of extinction. It was only thanks to strict protection measures that the population recovered and images like these are possible again. Saigas are stretched to the horizon, the herds are as huge as in faraway Africa. But this is Europe. The saiga mother with her two newborns stands calmly among the moving animals. The calves can already stand, but are still looking for milk in all possible and impossible places. They are probably only about an hour old. Even the young ones have the distinctive face with the big nose. Their nose helps to filter dust which becomes important in the hot summer, when the herds move across parched dusty ground. Now in spring, the lush green steppe shows an atypical picture. A crane sits right in the middle of the herd of migrating saigas. He isn't entirely comfortable in his skin, but remains steadfast on his nest. A short squawk is enough for the curious saiga to keep its distance. The saigas move on while we're left behind with impressive images of their mass migration.