Unicorn Endangered Saola | Slide Mouse
The second annual world saola day july 9 marks a renewed sense of hope and urgency for an international partnership developing the first ever conservation breeding program for the saola an antelope like mammal so rare that no biologist has ever seen it in the wild.
Unicorn endangered saola. It is the sole species of a genus of bovids and has been known to science only since 1992. The saola one of the most critically endangered species in the world and on the iucn red list is a very rare and distinct species that was discovered only around a couple of decades before in may 1992 often called the asian unicorn. The asian unicorn is mild mannered mysterious and unfortunately critically endangered by mankind. Adults weigh 80 100 kg and both females and males are characterized by long gently curving horns and a striking pattern of white markings on the head.
Saola have two distinctive parallel horns with sharp ends. In vietnam there are saola reserves in thua thien hue and quang nam provinces to protect this endangered species. None exist in captivity and this rarely seen mammal is already critically endangered. The saola pseudoryx nghetinhensis also called siola vu quang ox spindlehorn asian unicorn or infrequently the vu quang bovid is one of the world s rarest large mammals a forest dwelling bovine found only in the annamite range of vietnam and laos.
Since then the elusive animal has only been documented in the wild on four occasions. The saola pseudoryx ngethinhensis is one of the rarest large animals on earth. The saola s fur is sleek and dark brown in color with dappled white markings on the face. Scientists have categorically documented saola in the wild on only four occasions to date.
The saola enjoys eating fig leaves leaves of other trees fruits and berries. Horns are found on both males and females. The saola pronounced sow la and also known as the asian unicorn or the vu quang bovid has two long straight parallel horns that can reach 20 inches in length. What the possible extinction of the saola tells us the last unicorn william debuys discovered almost 30 years ago in vietnam this beautiful animal known as the unicorn of asia is facing possible extinction.
What follows are 40 fascinating facts about the saola including details on their habitat diet unique horns why they re one of the most endangered species in asia and what s being done to protect them. The asian unicorn is herbivorous and finds its favorite foods in the river banks.