36) The difficult terrain of their remote location makes scientific study difficult, but the best guess is that there are anywhere from 100 to 700 Saolo left in the wild. The population in Laos is believed to be larger than that in Vietnam, but both Saola populations may be below 100 at this point.
This begs the inquiry “How many Saola are there in the world?”
The saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Formal surveys have yet to be taken to determine accurate population numbers, but the IUCN estimates the total population to be between 70 and 750 and declining. About 100 animals reside in protected areas.
When was the saola last seen in person?
9) Though the Saola is commonly caught in snares used for hunting, the animal wasn’t seen in person by scientists again until 2010. As in Robichaud’s case, the second Saola was only observed briefly before dying in captivity.
How was the saola “discovered”?
6) It wasn’t until May of 1992 that the Saola became known to the Western world (and possibly to those outside of its natural habitat). 7) The species was “ discovered” in Vietnam by representatives from the Ministry of Forestry and World Wildlife Fund, when they saw an unusually long skull with straight horns in a hunter’s home.
Is there a saola in captivity?
None exist in captivity and this rarely-seen mammal is already critically endangered. Scientists have categorically documented saola in the wild on only four occasions to date.
Based on the observation of scientists, it is believed that Saola can live for 8-11 years. Since the discovery of Saola, the WWF (world wildlife fund) is involved in the protection of this extinct species. Thua-Thien hue and Quang Nam provinces are the two Saola reserves established for their conservation.