Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis)
Also known as the Asian Unicorn, the saolo is an extremly rare speies of anelope found only in the dense tropical forests in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos.
The saola was discovered in May 1992 during a joint survey carried out by the Ministry of Forestry of Vietnam and WWF in north-central Vietnam. The team found a skull with unusual long, straight horns in a hunter's home and knew it was something extraordinary. The find proved to be the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years and one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century.
Saola (pronounced: sow-la) are recognized by two parallel horns with sharp ends, which can reach 20 inches in length and are found on both males and females. Meaning “spindle horns” in Vietnamese, they are a cousin of cattle but resemble an antelope. Saola have striking white markings on the face and large maxillary glands on the muzzle, which could be used to mark territory or attract mates. They are found only in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos.
Why they matter...
...The actual size of the remaining population is unknown. Its rarity, distinctiveness and vulnerability make it one of the greatest priorities for conservation in the region. The current population is thought to be a few hundred at a maximum and possibly only a few dozen at a minimum.
On the verge of Extinction?
Hunting
Saola are often caught in snares set in the forest for wild boar, sambar or muntjac deer. Local villagers set some snares for subsistence use and crop protection. Recent increases in lowland people hunting to supply the illegal trade in wildlife has led to a massive increase in hunting, driven by traditional medicine demand
in China and restaurant and food markets in Vietnam and Laos.
Habitat Loss
As forests disappear under the chainsaw to make way for agriculture, plantations and
infrastructure, saola are being squeezed into smaller spaces. The added pressure from rapid and large-scale infrastructure in the region is also fragmenting saola habitat. Conservationists are concerned that this is allowing hunters easy access to the once untouched forest of the saola and may reduce genetic diversity in the future.
1. Hulse, David. "Saola." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, 13 Nov. 2013. Web. 07 Oct. 2014.
2. "'Asian Unicorn' to Get New Vietnam Nature Reserve." BBC News. BBC, 18 Apr. 2011. Web. 07 Oct. 2014.