AKIPRESS.COM - The number of Mongolian saiga antelopes, a critically endangered species, has increased to more than 15,500, Xinhua reports with reference to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Mongolia.

"The population of Mongolian saiga antelopes has increased to at least 15,540 this year. There have been no recorded cases of illegal hunting of Mongolian saiga antelopes since 2018," the WWF-Mongolia said in a statement.

The species' population had declined to only 750 in early 2000 due to several factors such as infectious diseases, harsh weather conditions and poaching.