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The Endangered Saola
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Adaptations
Food Web
Discovery
Horns
A Saola has two parallel horns at the top of its head. Its horns are straight with a slight bend at the tip. Their horns are most likely used as defense from predators and for protection from fights. Both male and females have the horns.
In May of 1992, a Saola's skull was found in Vietnam. Lots of people were confused on the head structure of the animal and how the horns weren't seen before. So scientists found 4 Saolas and took them under captivity for studying. All captive saola have died, leading to the belief that this species cannot live in captivity.
Skin
The Tongue
A Saola has a tongue that can extend up to 16 inches long. One reason could be to help aid in eating food. And another possible reason could be for licking (cleaning) themselves.
Saolas' skin is 1 to 2 mm thick around most of its body. Though the skin thickens near the neck, and upper shoulders up to 5 mm. This special adaptation protects them from predators and from fights. The skin is dark brown with a tint of red most likely for camouflage in the mountains.
Habitat
Why are Saolas Critically Endangered?
Saolas' habitat is in the forest of the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Lao. Because of human development, their habitat continues to shrink. This makes them vulnerable to hunters.
Local villagers originally set out snares for their traditional diet: wild boar, sambar, barking deer(etc.). But since the snares were set in the Saolas' habitat, many Saolas have been found killed and stuck in them.
Population
Why People Want to Conserve the Saola
Although there are not many Saolas left in the world, humans can help preserve the mammal by preventing hunting and and the placement of snares in the Saolas' habitat. Hopefully, this will motivate others to act quickly since the Saola is about to be extinct.
The population of Saolas is likely to be less than a few hundred due to lack of research. One of the projects researchers are working on to help find info. about the Saola is by using leeches. “Southeast Asian land leeches drink blood from passing animals, and the blood stays in leeches for a few months”. So researchers test the blood to see which animals the leeches have been feeding on.
The Critically Endangered Saola
"the Asian Unicorn"
(Pseudoryx Nghetinhensis)