Historic range of geographical distribution of eurasian saiga (<i>Saiga tatarica</i> l.) in Kazakhstan
The complete updated information on findings of fossil antilope-saiga in Kazakhstan is presented. Saiga was considered, from the ancient times, as one of the most available game animals and played important role in the life of Paleolithic man. About this are said the rock figures of saiga outline of Bronze epoch in Kazakhstan in Tamgaly gorge and Semirechie. The most ancient findings of fossil saiga on the territory of Kazakhstan are marked in Preirtyshie middle Pleistocene. However, time of saiga general appearance and distribution in Kazakhstan falls on Mustie epoch. Beginning from 1960, on the territory of Kazakhstan were found 35 localities with fossil saiga remains from late Paleolithic encampment from the Ural R. to Altay mountains. Abundance of saiga remains in Paleolithic encampments is pointed to favourable conditions of inhabitation in Pleistocene landscapes. Process of historical changes of landscape-climatic conditions favoured the creation of ecological niche, favourable for dispersion and acclimatization of saiga paleopopulation at the territory of Kazakhstan in postglacial epoch. Data on fossils remains indicates that borders of fossil saiga distribution, especially at the end of late Pleistocene, were situated northward of modern range borders. Eurasian antilope-saiga inhabited on the territory of Kazakhstan more than 100 thousand of years and may exist there for a long time in absence or significant weakening of anthropogenic pressing or natural cataclysms and strengthening of nature protection laws.