Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 28, 2025 – Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) today voted to allow international commercial trade in saiga horn from Kazakhstan under newly established quotas—a move strongly opposed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). 

The original proposal to lift the zero-export quota for wild Saiga tatarica was adopted with amendments to limit exports to 10,000 kilograms/just over 22,000 pounds per year for three years from Kazakhstan only; the quota will revert to zero after that and will be discussed at the next meeting.

WCS warned that these quotas—equivalent to at least 25,000 male saiga per year—pose a risk to the species. While presented as time-bound and tightly controlled, the reopening of any commercial trade is likely to increase consumer demand, strain enforcement systems, promote poaching and illegal trade, and threaten the long-term survival of the endangered saiga population of Mongolia. 

WCS emphasized that such large-scale quotas risk increasing demand in Asian markets, straining enforcement efforts and increasing illegal trade.

Dr. Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President of International Policy, said:
“The recovery of the saiga in Kazakhstan is a welcome conservation success story—but it is to soon to justify reopening international commercial trade. The systems required to prevent laundering and illegal trade—traceability, stockpile control, transparent enforcement—are simply not in place. The measures adopted by CITES Parties do not provide sufficient safeguards. Allowing horn exports now will give a signal in Asian markets that saiga horn is acceptable, and will increase demand, complicate enforcement, and endanger smaller populations across the species’ range. CITES will have to re-consider this at the next CoP, and we hope we do not then have to report increased poaching and a devastating outcome for saiga in Mongolia and other range states.”

Khash-Erdene Bayarsaikhan, Senior Communications and Partnerships Officer for WCS Mongolia, said:

“We strongly oppose allowing the trade of saiga horn under any quota. Authorizing the export of tens of thousands of horns each year sends exactly the wrong message at exactly the wrong time. Mongolia’s saiga remain a relatively small population, confined to a limited range and highly vulnerable to illegal hunting. Allowing legal trade elsewhere could drive up demand, add further enforcement challenges—especially where stockpiling systems are not in place—and place additional pressure on these fragile populations.”

Dr. Buuveibaatar Bayarbaatar, Senior Scientist with WCS Mongolia, said:
“Mongolia’s saiga is a unique and irreplaceable subpopulation found nowhere else. Although numbers have grown, it remains extremely vulnerable. Without proper preparedness and strong safeguards in place, any renewed demand for saiga horn risks undermining decades of conservation progress in Mongolia.”

The CITES debate comes at a pivotal moment. The IUCN Red List recently reclassified the saiga antelope from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened across its range, reflecting a dramatic recovery driven by improved law enforcement, habitat protection, and long-term partnerships with conservation organizations and donors. 

Yet experts warn that the species has a long history of extreme boom-and-bust cycles, making a precautionary approach essential. Demand for saiga horn in traditional Asian medicine remains strong, and reopening trade risks increasing demand and reigniting incentives for poaching and creating new laundering opportunities. Enforcement officers currently struggle to distinguish legal from illegal horns, and without a robust, transparent traceability system across all range and consumer states, the risk of illegal trade entering legal markets remains high.

Smaller saiga populations outside Kazakhstan face challenges. In Mongolia, the distinct species (Saiga borealis) has rebounded to more than 25,000 individuals thanks to extensive collaboration among government agencies, local communities, WCS Mongolia, and other partners. However, the species remains geographically restricted and highly susceptible to climate extremes, disease, infrastructure expansion, and renewed poaching pressure.

WCS Mongolia is supporting the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs in bringing law-enforcement agencies together to strengthen preventive action and address environmental crime, including illegal wildlife trade. The team also provides technical support to help the Ministry align with international conventions. In previous years, WCS Mongolia conducted long-term research on saiga populations, as well as studies on local trade dynamics and hunting risks with key partners. This scientific evidence continues to inform and strengthen Mongolia’s national response. Across the region, improving stockpile management, deepening cross-border cooperation, and dismantling trafficking networks remain essential components of safeguarding the species’ recovery.

More than 3,000 participants from 185 countries have gathered in Samarkand for CITES CoP20, where governments are considering dozens of proposals aimed at preventing international trade from threatening the survival of species in the wild.