In the meantime, the economy of Kalmykia collapsed and the numbers of saiga have crashed due to poaching for meat and horns (Chinese medicine) and desertification caused by overgrazing by domestic animals.

The reserve also has colonies of egrets, cormorants, and rare pelicans.

[3] Chornye Zemli is located in the middle of the Caspian lowland desert ecoregion, a region that covers the north and southeast coasts of the Caspian Sea, including the deltas of the Volga River and Ural River in the northern region.

Although precipitation is relatively low (less than 200 mm/year), wildlife is supported by the river systems and sea itself.

This climate is characterized by high variation in temperature, both daily and seasonally; with low precipitation.