Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Saola

A brown mammal with two parallel horns that can reach up to 50cm, the Saola has white spots around its mouth, making it a strong symbol of biodiversity in Vietnam and Laos.

They are believed to use their muzzle (mouth & nose)  to mark their territory.They have an average height of 33 inches (83.82cm) to the shoulder. With their weight ranging between 176-220 lbs. Cousin to a cattle and meaning “spindle horns” in Vietnamese, the Saola has earned itself the nickname of the “asian unicorn”, because it is very hard to find and rarely appears. With a lifespan of 5-10 years, they are thought to eat mostly leaves. Their adaptations are their brown pelt for camouflage in the forest, and their horns could be used for defense.   

 

Habitat

The Saola is found in the Annamite mountains of Vietnam and Laos.They have a highly sensitive habitat association with wet evergreen forests. In a wet evergreen forest, the rainfall average never goes below about 40mm per month.These animals are also used to mid-elevation, because it most frequently appears in a elevation range of about 500-800m above sea level. About 50% of the Saola’s habitat area is now under protection.

 

Discovery

Discovered in May 1992,during a during a joint survey carried out by the Ministry of Forestry of Vietnam and WWF in the Vu Quang Nature Reserve (north-central Vietnam), there is still little known about the Saola. They first suspected there was some sort of animal with long horns in that area due to the discovery of a skull of an animal with long horns in a native house nearby. Currently, the Saola have been only photographed in . the wild 5 times, with camera trap images. The last photograph so far was taken in September 2013, of a large male Saola.

 

Human Impacts

Hunted for meat, the Saola is sometimes specifically targeted. They are often captured by snare traps set in their habitat area that is meant for other animals. Transborder Vietnamese poachers have also proven to be a threat. Their long horns make them the perfect victim for trophy hunting. Since 2011, forest guards have removed about 30,000 snare traps from the Saola habitat area. In Hanoi, Vietnam, 2000, horns belonging to the rare Saola was being sold for $600 US dollars. At least 20 Saolas have been captured in Vietnam and Laos after announcing the creature’s description in 1993. Only two have been released back to wild, alive. And about 30 Saolas were killed between 1995 and 2003. That is why the Saola is currently critically endangered, and their population is predicted to be about 250 mature (fully grown) individuals.

 

Taking Action 

Thankfully, the Saola is protected by national law in Vietnam (Decree 48; IB) and in Laos (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Regulation 360). The highest priority is heavy patrolling against snares and other types of hunting methods. Another priority is to conduct a range wide assessment of Saola status and conservation opportunities, to best direct the limited resources effectively. Let us hope their efforts will not be in vain.

 

Sources:http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/saola

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/18597/0

 

Slogan: “If there is no more snares, the Saolas will not be in despair.”