Saola: The critically endangered 'Asian unicorn'

The saola was one of the most spectacular zoological finds of the 20th century: it was only in 1992 that scientists described it as a new species from horns and skulls kept by hunters — before that, the outside world had no idea it existed. Because it is so rarely encountered, it earned the lovely nickname "Asian unicorn".

Its body

The saola measures about 1.4 to 1.6 metres and belongs to the cattle family. It carries a pair of long, straight horns — the very clue that first let scientists recognise it. It is a quiet animal, often alone or in small groups, favouring damp mountain forest for foraging.

Where it lives and what it eats

The saola is a plant-eater, browsing mainly on fig leaves and other vegetation. It lives in the Annamite range on the border of Vietnam and Laos — damp, dense mountain forest. Because it is so secretive and so rare, our knowledge of how it lives remains very limited.

The threats it faces

The saola is currently listed as critically endangered, with perhaps only tens to a few hundred left in the wild, threatened mainly by wire snares set by poachers. These snares are meant for other animals but often catch saola by accident. Protecting it means protecting the whole Annamite forest and removing poaching traps.

A note for grown-ups

You could talk with a child about how science is still discovering new animals: only a few decades ago, an animal completely unknown to us was found. That tells a child the world is not yet fully explored — stay curious and respect nature, and perhaps one day you too could discover a new species.