Is the Saola Still Among Us?

Could this mythical creature still be wandering the misty highlands of Vietnam and Laos, or is it already lost to history? Dubbed the Asian unicorn for its astonishing rarity, the saola—officially recognized by science only in 1992—is shrouded in enigma.

Fewer Than 100 Left?

Regrettably, estimates suggest fewer than 100 saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) are left in the wild, and it might already be extinct. The last confirmed sighting occurred in 2013, intensifying the urgency behind ongoing search efforts.

A Challenge Like No Other

Finding the saola is no easy feat. Its remote habitat in the rugged Annamite Mountains complicates matters, leaving researchers like Nguyen Quoc Dung of Vietnam's Forest Inventory and Planning Institute with a haunting uncertainty: "The last evidence we have was from 2013, but the dense forests make it incredibly tough to confirm whether any saolas remain." Yet, he still clings to hope.

A Genetic Breakthrough