SAOLA: The most endangered mammal of Vietnam

1 of the most endangered mammal inhabits in the lush tropic forests of Annamite variety on the border between Viet Nam and Lao Men and women’s Democratic Republic and identified as Saola. The Asian unicorn Saola is a massive mammal that has been found in current occasions and it is so distinguished in its description that the biologists developed a new genus Pseudoryx and named Saola as Pseudoryx nghetinhensis. To shield this wonderful zoological discovery the Vietnamese government with the consent of the local people have approved a Saola Organic Reserve.

The adult Saola can acquire around a weight up to 90 Kg and the head of Saola can of 150 cm in length. The shoulder height of this amazing mammal can reach 85 cm and its tail is almost 20 cm long. The skin of Saola is relatively soft and thin and its color  is dark brown possessing a black stripe along the back. Their distinctive horns can develop to half a meter and keep a backward curvy shape. The white stripes exist on the cheeks of Saola and the related white colored stains are located on eyebrows , noses and chin. The legs of Saola are fairly darker in colour but there are white dots on its feet.

Saola – Image courtesy WWF

Saola’s preferred location is the mountain forests and throughout the rainy seasons, when all streams are overflowed with water , the shy Saola come near the villages but they don’t enter in the fields. Saola the most endangered mammal of Vietnam is so uncommon that  only a single female Saola was caught by the locals of Laos in August 2010 and she also died in the pregnant condition. According to the analysis the diet plan of Saola includes little leafy plants specifically fig leaves, and stems along rivers. Saola, the most endangered mammal of Vietnam is threatened the most from hunting. There are fears that Saola the most endangered mammal of Vietnam might be extinct by now  especially in Vietnam. The need to eat its valuable meat and to use the facial glands of the Saola for medicinal purposes are the main causes for its hunting. Furthermore  the timber extraction practices for modest-scale agricultural use and logging of trees are enhancing the access of remaining Saolas to the hunters.