Saola Sighting: Rare Asian 'Unicorn' Sighting Confirmed

by Amy Judd | September 17, 2010 at 10:52 am

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The Saola is Considered One of the World's Rarest Animals

They haven't been seen in over a decade, but scientists have confirmed that they had a sighting of a Saola in August in Laos. They are sometimes called an Asian 'unicorn' (see reason below).

Sadly the animal died after it was captured by villagers and taken back to their homes in Bolikhamxay province. They contacted conservationists but by the time the team arrived, the Saola was likely so weak from being in captivity that it died a short while later according to CNN.

"The death of this Saola is unfortunate,” the Provincial Conservation Unit of Bolikhamxay province said in the IUCN statement. “But at least it confirms an area where it still occurs and the government will immediately move to strengthen conservation efforts there."

A Saola has not been seen since 1999 and they were only discovered in 1992. They are so rare that biologists have never seen one roaming out in the wild, only one on camera in 1999. There are also none in captivity and it is estimated that only a few hundred live in the mountains of Laos.

The saola, although it has two horns, may be the basis of the mythical Chinese unicorn, the qilin, although it is unknown if saolas ever existed in China.

The body of the Saola that died is being kept for study.