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In the Northwest Pre-Caspian Region of Russia, rising temperatures and declining precipitation have dried up natural water sources, threatening the endangered saiga antelope, particularly during the calving period. To address this, a WWF-funded pilot project restored three abandoned Soviet-era artesian wells in the Stepnoi Wildlife Refuge in late 2018. The restoration doubled the water flow at these sites, which are now used by saiga, foxes, and wolves. The project aims to improve calf survival, reduce competition with livestock, and decrease poaching by keeping the antelope within the protected area. The saiga population in the area is estimated to have grown from 5,000 to 7,000 individuals, though further adaptation measures are required.