Page 81 - World of Animals - Issue #41

Wildlife of the Asian Steppe

Steppe eagle
The steppe eagle is a common brown raptor found
across much of Central Asia in the summer, migrating
to overwinter in Africa and southwestern Asia. The
eagles eat a wide range of small mammals, birds,
reptiles, insects and carrion. They will even steal food
from other raptors given the opportunity.

Mongolian gazelle
There are over 1.5 million
Mongolian gazelle living on
the Asian steppes. They are a
medium-sized antelope with
distinctive white, heart-shaped
markings on their rump, and
gently curving horns. The
gazelles migrate across the
steppes in search of food, o‘en in

herds of several thousand.

Saiga antelope
The saiga antelope lives
across much of the European
and Asian steppes. Their
distinctive bulbous nose is
flexible and inflatable, which

allows them to cope with dusty
air in summer and cold air
in winter. Sadly, hunting has
led to the species becoming
critically endangered.

Stars of the grasslands Due to the harsh conditions on the steppes, many animals choose to live in close communities. Here we meet a few of them

Asian badger Bobak marmot Corsac fox Sociable lapwing Harvester termite Green bee-eater © Sol90; Asim Patel; Thinkstock; NaturePL; Alamy
The Asian badger lives across These rodents inhabit both Although these foxes mainly True to its name, the sociable Several species of harvester The green bee-eater is indeed
China, Kazakhstan, Korea the European and Asian eats insects and small lapwing spends its time in termites are found on the keen on eating bees, but also
and Russia. There are three steppes. Up to 15 families can rodents, they sometimes large flocks which migrate steppes. They live in tall likes beetles and even crabs.

subspecies, which vary in live in one square kilometre form small packs to hunt across Asia. Sadly the species mounds and feed on grass They live in communal roosts
terms of how stripy they are. (0.4 square miles). larger animals. is now critically endangered. and straw. of up to 300 individuals.

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