#Species_Critically_Endangered
Saola
The saola was discovered in
May 1992 during a joint survey carried out by the
Ministry of Forestry of Vietnam and WWF in north-central Vietnam. The team found a skull with unusual long, straight horns in a hunter's home and knew it was something extraordinary.
Saola (pronounced: sow-la) are recognized by two parallel horns with sharp ends, which can reach
20 inches in length and are found on both males and females. Meaning “
spindle horns” in Vietnamese, they are a cousin of cattle but resemble an antelope.
Saola have striking
white markings on the
face and large maxillary glands on the
muzzle, which could be used to mark territory or attract mates. They are found only in the
Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos.
