ZooWeird 70

A doggerel series about odd or little-known animals.

Saiga antelope.  Saigas are nomadic animals, best known for their distinctive enlarged noses that hang down over the mouth. The species originally inhabited a vast area, covering the steppes and semi-desert regions of southeastern Europe and Central Asia from the Precaspian steppes to Mongolia and western China. The species also lived in North America during the Pleistocene period. At present, the one of the two surviving subspecies (S. t. tatarica) can be found in one location in Russia (steppes of the northwest Precaspian region) and three areas in Kazakhstan (the Ural, Ustiurt and Betpak-dala populations). The other (S. t. mongolica) can be found only in western Mongolia. The species became extinct in China by the 1960s, and in Ukraine during the 18th century. (All animal info from http://www.strangeanimals.info/2014/03/Saiga-antelope.html#ixzz4XvCuTLtl)

These antelope are Russian, and

It seems they have a chunky nose.

They dart about that Russian land

In search of some designer clothes

That would, somehow, diminish the

Effects of such a sturdy snout.

And then, at last, they would be free

From always being talked about—

The snotty comments (that’s a pun)—

Comparisons they must abide.
Yes, then, it would be time for fun—

The kind you have when you have hide.