Renowned Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has extended his congratulations to the government of Kazakhstan, acknowledging their outstanding achievements in the conservation of the endangered Saiga species, QazMonitor reports.
Taking to his Instagram account, the actor highlighted the success story of saigas, once classified as critically endangered. On December 11, 2023, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced the transition of the saiga antelope from the ‘Critically Endangered’ to the ‘Near Threatened’ category on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
DiCaprio commended Kazakhstan for its unprecedented conservation efforts, leading the saiga antelope population to surge from 48,000 individuals in 2005 to over 1.9 million in the wild.
“Congrats to the government of Kazakhstan, which invested heavily in anti-poaching initiatives, robust law enforcement, and the establishment of new protected areas. Their collaboration with conservation organizations, universities, and scientists is a prime example of true conservation success driven by collaborative efforts,” wrote the actor.
Leonardo DiCaprio has been a dedicated advocate for environmental conservation for numerous years. Through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, he has allocated over $30 million to nature conservation projects across 40 countries, earning him the prestigious Crystal Award in recognition of his outstanding efforts.