Finding & Saving The Rarest Mammal On Earth -The Asian Unicorn A.K.A Saola

Saolas are one of the rarest Mammals and are on the brink of extinction. The European Union, Re: Wild and WWF- Vietnam have aimed to find this wild cattle, supposedly down to a few individuals, to prevent its imminent extinction.

Finding & saving the rarest mammal on earth i.e the Asian Unicorn A.K.A Saola has become a mission since few years now, and definitive action being taken by the European Union, Re: Wild and WWF- Vietnam.

Saola- generally new to the ecosystem – were discovered in 1992 by scientists, but they were so rare that no biologist has ever seen them in the wild. Saolas are famously known as the Asian Unicorn because of their ability to be evasive.

Rapid Response for Ecosystems, Species and Communities Undergoing Emergencies (Rapid RESCUE) fund, which was established in 2020 by the EU, Leonardo Di Caprio and Re: Wild- to quickly act upon the emerging biodiversity threats. The Saola is their latest focus.

Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, the extensive search for the last Saolas had effectively stopped. But, it only proved the need for an emergency to initiate surveys and conservation methods to prevent extinction. Rapid RESCUE’s funding will support Re:

Wild and WWF- Viet Nam to search for the last Saolas in Vietnam. The initiative would be the first step towards securing these animals for a conversation breeding program that ensures these species’ survival.

Andrew Tilker, Re: Wild’s Asian species officer, affirmed that this is an opportunity to find and save the last Saola in Vietnam.

Moreover, he confirmed that they are working with local stakeholders to start conservation breeding programs for a few species to return them to the wild when it is safe.

The Annamite Mountains are a chain of mountains on the border of Vietnam and Laos. But, several species, including the Saola, are victims of hunting through wire snares- a wire loop attached to trees.

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