Saola - The Spindle Horn
ABOUT SAOLAS
Saolas (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis), also known as the Spindle Horn, falls under the class Mammalia and is known to be the world’s largest, rarest animal, measuring 35 inches around the shoulders and estimated to be 4.9 feet in length while weighing 176 to 220 lbs. They can be found in the Annamite Mountains, which are located along the border of Vietnam and Laos. Saolas can also inhabit wet, evergreen or deciduous forests in eastern Southeast Asia. During the winter, Saolas would migrate to the lowlands in the northern Annamite Mountains.
As herbivores, a Saola’s diet may consist of eating shrubs, trees, nuts, and berries, but they usually prefer to feed on a plant family known as the Sterculiaceae, as well as the Schismatoglottis. In addition, Saolas are known to be solitary animals but have been reported to move in groups with up to 7 members, mainly consisting of the mother and offspring.
ENDANGERMENT
The species was first reported to be critically endangered in 1992 at Vu Quang National Park in Ha Tinh, Vietnam, due to hunting and habitat loss, which is caused by its main predators: hunters. Saolas are valuable prey because of their horns, which have become symbols of prized trophies for those who hunted them. Today, the population of Saolas has decreased drastically to a total of 750 Saolas left in the region of Ha Tinh.
IS THERE A SOLUTION?
Even though hunting Saolas is currently illegal, the pressure to supply illegal trades has recently led to an increase in the hunting of Saolas. Currently, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is being involved in their protection by:
Creating plans to establish protected areas for Saolas in the region.
Strengthening existing and establishing new laws to stop the hunting of Saolas.
Conducting research.
Working on community-based forest management.
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