On the border between Vietnam and Laos, a ghost-like entity walks through the depths of the mist-shrouded forests of the Annamite Mountains. It is very mysterious and rare. This horned creature seems to blend in with nature so well that it was only first discovered by humankind in the late 20th century. Have you guessed what we are talking about? It is known as the legendary ‘Asian Unicorn’, a striking antelope or deer-like mammal, the Saola.
The Saola is a critically endangered forest-dwelling bovid, native to the Annamite Forest of Vietnam and Laos. The Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) is the sole member of the genus Pseudoryx. Apart from being known as the Asian Unicorn, it is also referred to as the Spindlehorn or Vu Quang bovid by the locals. It was first discovered in 1992, and since then, it has gained global recognition as one of the rarest zoological discoveries. The most recent sighting of it was back in 2013 in central Vietnam. Today, there is growing concern that this elusive animal may already be on the brink of extinction.
Though it is often called the “Asian Unicorn,” It’s not a unicorn at all. Rather, it is a deer-like mammal. But the pair of stunning, parallel horns conjures some sense of magic, earning the name Asian unicorn. However, it is not looking good for the Saola. Since 2013, it has not been seen. So, we don’t even know if it still exists. If it still exists, we have to protect it. Otherwise, it will not be long before it completely disappears from our planet. Some hopeful experts think there are now fewer than 100 still alive. University of Copenhagen’s wildlife geneticist Rasmus Heller said, “That number is extremely optimistic. The real number is probably much lower, and it’s possible that there are actually zero.”
The Saola has never been seen in the wild by a researcher. Why? Because the Saola is said to be extremely shy, and it moves quite secretively, which makes it seem invisible. Thus, it earned the name ‘Ghost of the Mist’ as well. And the natural habitat of the Saola is usually in the deep, wet side of the forest or the terrain. Everything we know basically came from the camera trap images, locals, hunters, or, tragically, after their death. Since its discovery, a few Saolas have been kept captive, but ironically, none survived, pointing to its severe sensitivity to its habitat.
The Saola is a severely vulnerable species. The Saola was officially categorized as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List in 2015. Their existence is threatened due to habitat loss, snaring, and their low population. To protect it, several organizations, like the Saola Foundation and the IUCN Saola Working Group, are working to save it. Moreover, according to some scientists, if they can bring together at least a dozen Saolas through genetic engineering, there is a decent chance of long-term survival. But locating even one individual is hard. To date, it remains one of the rarest mammals ever discovered because of its scarcity. This raises the question: Could the Saola already be extinct?
The story of the Saola is a haunting reminder that our natural world is not a kind place for all. And we still don’t know the world’s secrets. And the saddest part? We can’t do anything about it. As the ghost of the forest, Saola will vanish before anybody knows anything. Right now, the Saola doesn’t need any fairy tale story; it needs a chance to survive.
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Writer
Ifraat Jahan Esha
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE