SAOLA
In May, 1992 the first large mammal discovered in over 50 years, was found in an area of unmapped tropical rain forest near the Laos border in Vietnam. The animal was dubbed the the saola, or Vu Quang ox after the region it was found. The last time such a large species was discovered was when a species of wild cattle was found in northern Cambodia in 1937. That species is probably now extinct.
The saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) is also known as the spindlehorn and pseudoryx. It weighs about 100 kilograms (220 pounds) and stands 80 to 90 centimeters (31.5 to 35.4 inches) at the shoulder. It was classified as a kind of wild cattle even though it has 51-centimeter (20-inch) -long backward-pointing horns similar to horns of a goat.
The saola was described by Barbara Basler in the New York Times as "a cowlike creature with a the glossy coat of a horse, the agility of a goat, and the long horns of an antelope. Know to local people as the "forest goat" or "spindle horn," DNA analysis of 11 Vu Quang ox specimens, determined that not only was it a new species, but a new genus as well. It was not considered a member of the bovid family, which included cattle, sheep, goats and antelopes.”
Saola resemble antelope and members of the family Bovidae and subfamily Antilopinae. Although they were first thought to be more closely related to members of the subfamily Caprinae (which includes chamois, goats, sheep, and others), DNA evidence has placed them in the subfamily Bovinae (which includes bison, buffalo, and cattle). Little is known about the life span of saola in the wild, but in captivity they generally do not survive more than five months. This is probably due to stress and lack of proper nutrition. Other members of the subfamiliy Bovinae can live 15 to 20 years in the wild, and it is likely that this species is similar. [Source: Darce Holcomb, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]
Saola Habitat and Where They Are Found
Saola are found in few mountainous areas of Vietnam and Laos, near the Laos and Vietnam border. Saola have one of the smallest ranges of mammals in the world, and are found in only six provinces in Vietnam and three provinces in Laos. [Source: Darce Holcomb, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]
Saola live in tropical areas in forests, rainforests, mountains and wetlands such as marshes and swamps at elevations from 400 to 750 meters (1312 to 2461 feet). They were discovered so late probably because their habitat is difficult to access and the terrain there is very rough and difficult to penetrate.
Saola prefer broadleaf evergreen forests that are in the wet lowland Annamite Mountains of Laos and Vietnam. Their habitat has long rainy seasons with high average annual rainfall. They tend to stay close to the Vietnam-Laos border, in the wet evergreen areas of the Annamite Mountains. Their geographic range is small (4000 square kilometers).
Many of the remaining saola are believed to live in Vu Quang Reserve, which has been described as "a dense, high-quality forest" filled with wild birds, cattle-like gaurs, forest pigs, sambar deer, gibbon, tigers, leopards, elephants and deer. The park not only produced early sightings of saola it also yield the discoveries of other new species such as the quang khem, a strange new species of fish, which resembles a carp, and the yellow terrapin.
Among the reasons for this, wrote Eugene Linden in Time magazine, "lies in the region's steep, ragged terrain and exceptionally wet, sweltering weather conditions...Incessant rains during the rainy season and dripping fogs during the dry season nurture a slick algae that adds a treacherous coating to rocks and other surfaces...The presence of what may be ancient species is evidence that Vu Qunag and its environs have been ecologically stable for millions of years."
Despite widespread hunting, Vu Quang remains incredible biologically diverse. "If mankind wants to preserve biodiversity," one conservationist told Time, "it makes sense to start in places like Vu Qunag, which have proved able to sustain biodiversity for along time." The park was named after a 19th century Vietnamese who revolted against the French. Established in 1986, it was later enlarged from 40,000 acres to 150,000 acres. There has been some logging, but most of the park embraces virgin rain forest. Vu Quang is connected with the 900,000 acre Nakai Nam Theun National Biodiversity Conservation Area in Laos. There areplans to also include 750,000 acres of reserves in the surrounding mountain forest in Vietnam.
Saola Characteristics and Diet
Saola range in weight from 80 to 100 kilograms (176 to 220 pounds). Their average head and body length is 150 centimeters (59 inches). Sexual Dimorphism (differences between males and females) is not present: Both sexes are roughly equal in size and look similar. [Source: Darce Holcomb, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]
Larger than a goat but smaller than a cow, saoloa have has a deep brown coat with black and white markings. They have narrow, two-toed hooves with a concave area on the bottom that allows the animal to grip slippery surfaces. Large facial glands secrete a scent to mark territory.. Perhaps the most unusual thing about the animal is that seems to have more in common with species that roamed the earth between 5 and 10 million years ago than it does with modern ones
Saola are herbivores (primarily eat plants or plants parts), and are also classified as folivores (eat mainly leaves). Among the plant foods they eat are leaves, ferns and flowering plants (angiosperms). Both males and female saola have horns that are probably used for protection against predators. The common name, saola, means "spinning wheel posts" in the local language. This name was probably given to the species because of the way the horns resemble tapered posts of a spinning wheel. /=\
According to Animal Diversity Web: Saola have brown noses. The fur consists of different shades of brown. Some have white patches on the side of neck. A black stripe extends from the shoulders to the lower back. The underside of is a lighter shade of brown than the upper body. The tail is striped, with brown, black, and cream colors. The rump is marked by a cream colored band which extends horizontally from the top of one hind leg to the other. White bands encircle the lower leg, just above the hooves. The face has white patches that conceal small dermal nodules that may be scent glands. Saola have possibly the largest maxillary glands of any living mammal./=\
Saola Behavior and Communication
Saola are terricolous (live on the ground), diurnal (active during the daytime), crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), motile (move around as opposed to being stationary), sedentary (remain in the same area), solitary, territorial (defend an area within the home range). [Source: Darce Holcomb, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]
The sure-footed saola spends much of its time on high cliffs, where it feeds on grass. Although there are currently no studies on saola behavior in the wild, observations have been made on captive saola. These animals seem to be active both at night and during the day, although some familiar with saola report that wild iondividuals are mostly active in the morning and late afternoon. Saola appear to be solitary animals. They also seem to engage in territorial marking by snapping small saplings with their horns. Since their horns have many scratches, it is suggested that they rub vegetation and soil as a part of social or sexual activity. The putative scent glands on the face of saloa may indicate some scent marking of territories.
Saola sense and communicate with vision, touch, sound and chemicals usually detected by smelling. They also leave scent marks produced by special glands and placed so others can smell and taste them. Saola in captivity have been observed bleating for unknown reasons. Some researchers suggest that twig breaking with horns may be a form of social and/or sexual communication. They also possess scent glands under the white markings on their faces, indicating the importance of chemical communication in this species. Although not specifically reported, we can infer that tactile communication is important during mating and rearing of young. Because these animals might have some activity during daylight hours, there may also be visual communication between individuals based on body postures and other visual signals. /=\
Saola Mating, Reproduction and Offspring
Information on the mating behavior of saola is limited. Based on examinations of a dead pregnant female it is estimated that saola give birth between April and June and mate between August and November. It is not known whether saola use their horns as display for mating purposes. They are probably similar to other Bovinae, like four-horned antelope, in that gestation lasts eight months. It is believed saola only give birth to one offspring. per litter. It is unknown if saola exhibit any mating rituals.[Source: Darce Holcomb, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]
There is also little information on the parental activity of saola but it is reasoned that pre-birth provisioning and protecting and the pre-weaning provisioning and protecting are done by females.Artiodactyl young are generally precocial. This means they are relatively well-developed when born.
Like other Artiodactyl, young likely receive nourishment from mother's milk, protection from mother, and probably some form of grooming. It has not been reported how long young are dependent upon the mother, but in the case of other Artiodactyl it is usually around one year. /=\
Saola, Humans and Conservation
It is believed that there about only 200 saola left. Some animals have been taken for food by tribesmen who hunt them with snare traps or dogs who pursue the animals to accessible riverbanks. Laotian hunters have used horns from the animals to make racks and ceremonial altars, not realizing the animal is endangered. At least six of these animals were found in 1994. Two adolescent ones were captured and taken to a botanical garden in Hanoi, where they died from an infection in their digestive tract. Vietnamese scientists made calls to zoologist around the for advise on how to help them.
On the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List saola are listed as Critically Endangered. In CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild) they are in Appendix I, which lists species that are the most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants. [Source: Darce Holcomb, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]
The primary threats to saola are hunting and loss of their forest habitat due to agriculture and logging. Saola are one of many animals that are hunted in Vietnam and Laos for meat and hide. Locals place a high value on saola because of their scarcity. Many hunters also try to capture live saola because of their importance to the scientific community. Saola don't do well in captivity, and die soon after capture. Intense conservation efforts were started in 1997 to ensure the survival of these animals.
Natural predators of saola include tigers, leopards, and dholes. When threatened, saola use their sharp-tipped horns for protection, lowering their heads and ready to strike aggressors if necessary. Although they don't appear to be frightened by humans, saola are terrified of dogs. While running from predators, their glands swell and they snort./=\
Discovery of the Saola
The Saola was discovered by a team of scientists led by biologist John MacKinnon in the Vu Quang Nature Reserve, a beautiful mountainous area of dense, unmapped tropical rain forest near the Laos border 170 miles southeast of Hanoi. The animal was described in 14th century Chinese journals but was thought to either have been mythical or extinct.
The first clues of the new animal were reports by village hunters of wild goats in the Vu Quang region and the discovery by Vietnamese zoologist Do Tuoc of skulls with long curved horns mounted on posts outside the home of a hunter. Japanese film crews roamed the region around Vu Quang offering anyone who produced the animal several thousand dollars.
A live saola specimen was captured in early 1996 in the Khammuan Province of Laos. Most of what scientist know about the animal has been determined from heads, horns and skins of the animal collected by local T'ai tribal hunters. Photographers hired by the World Wildlife Fund hoped to photograph it by setting up "photo traps” along forest tracks believed to be used by the animal.
Until 2013 none one had been able to photograph the saola. DNA evidence indicates the horns are similar in composition to ordinary cattle. Some believe that horns were artificially created and the species was a hoax.
Saola Spotted in 2013 — the First Time in 15 Years
In November 2013, Reuters reported: “The critically endangered saola has been photographed in Vietnam, the first sighting in 15 years, conservationists said. Known for its two parallel horns that can grow to 50 inches (1.27 meters) in length, the saola is so rare that simply seeing a picture of one gives hope to those who want to preserve the species, said Van Ngoc Thinh ofWorld Wildlife Fund. "When our team first looked at the photos, we couldn't believe our eyes," Van Ngoc, WWF-Vietnam's country director, said in a statement. "This is a breath-taking discovery and renews hope for the recovery of the species." [Source: Reuters, November 13, 2013 +]
“The automatic camera trap that snapped the saola was set by the wildlife group and the Vietnamese government's Forest Protection Department in the central Annamite mountains. The last confirmed record of a saola in the wild was in 1999, from camera trap photos taken in the Laotian province of Bolikhamxay. Villagers in Bolikhamxay captured a saola in 2010 but it subsequently died, the WWF said. In Vietnam, the last confirmed sighting was in 1998, said Dang Dinh Nguyen, deputy head of Quang Nam Forest Protection Department. +
“The greatest threat to saola are wire snares set by hunters to catch deer and civets — a small nocturnal mammal — native to the same forests and destined for the illegal wildlife trade, Van Ngoc said. To combat this trend, conservation groups recruited forest guards from local communities to remove the snares; since 2011, more than 30,000 snares have been removed from the area of critical saola habitat along the Vietnam-Laos border. The guards have also destroyed more than 600 illegal hunters' camps, the statement said. +
Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons
Text Sources: Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org ; National Geographic, Live Science, Natural History magazine, David Attenborough books, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Discover magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Wikipedia, The Guardian, Top Secret Animal Attack Files website and various books and other publications.
Last updated January 2025