Saola
The Asian unicorn — one of the most mysterious large animals on Earth
No photo available for Saola
Population
Unknown — possibly fewer than 100
Location
Annamite Mountains, Vietnam and Laos
Overview
The saola was only discovered by science in 1992, making it one of the most recent large mammal discoveries in the world. It has never been observed in the wild by a scientist, and has only been photographed by camera traps a handful of times. So little is known about it that its population is genuinely unknown — it may already be functionally extinct.
Why they're at risk
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Snares set for other animals — wild boar and deer — inadvertently catch and kill saola at an alarming rate. The Annamite forest is one of the most heavily snared landscapes on Earth.
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Hunting pressure from local communities and commercial poaching networks.
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Extremely limited range and apparently very low population density, even within suitable habitat.
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So little is known about the species that targeted conservation is nearly impossible.
Reasons for hope
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Camera trap images from 2013 confirmed the saola's continued existence — the most recent confirmed sighting to date.
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Snare removal teams working in the Annamite forests have pulled hundreds of thousands of snares, benefiting saola and countless other species.
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The Saola Working Group, an international coalition of scientists, is coordinating global efforts to study and protect the species.
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DNA from leeches has been used to detect saola presence in areas where cameras haven't captured them, suggesting a broader range than known photographs suggest.