Have you ever heard of the Saola, also known as the Asian unicorn? Don’t be fooled by its name, this animal is not a mythical creature but a real one that lives in the forests of Vietnam and Laos. However, it is so rare and elusive that biologists have seen it only a few times since its discovery in 1992.

The Saola is a cousin of cattle, but it looks more like an antelope with its slender body and long legs. It has two parallel horns that can grow up to 51 cm (20 in) long, giving it the nickname spindlehorn. It also has distinctive white markings on its face and large glands on its muzzle that may help it communicate with other Saolas. Unfortunately, this amazing animal is critically endangered due to hunting and habitat loss.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Laos

2015

Vietnam

2015