Elena Bykova

I was born in Uzbekistan and have lived here most of my life. Over the years, I’ve seen the impact of numerous environmental issues – land degradation, poaching and climate change – that have all contributed to the threats faced by endangered species. As I witnessed this, it ignited a natural desire within me to try to improve the situation. I ended up researching the saiga antelope, a unique and critically endangered species that now faces challenges within its natural habitat across a range of countries, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia. It made sense to structure the work of the Saiga Conservation Alliance [SCA] around all of these critical areas. We are mainly based in Uzbekistan, but we also actively cooperate with partners and colleagues in Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia. Without studying and protecting the saiga, our generation could witness its disappearance forever.