Authorities of Quang Binh province are embarking on activities to save Saola, one of the rarest and most threatened mammals on the planet, from the brink of extinction.
Saola is one of the rarest and most threatened mammals on the planet. (Photo: WWF)
The activities are part of a project focused on sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation in Quang Binh.
The Saola, scientifically known as Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, is found in the Truong Son mountain range in Vietnam and Laos.
Found by scientists in 1992, Saola is critically endangered and is listed in the Red List of Threatened Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Red Data Book of Vietnam.
The project will provide urgent and direct support to identify and mitigate threats to the species within priority areas in the Central Truong Son region while raising public awareness to increase the ability to detect the presence of Saola within its habitat range.
Since its discovery, the Saola population has remained very small. The species is thinly distributed and mainly inhabits the upstream rocky areas at altitudes of 200 to 600 meters. The exact number of individuals remaining is unknown, making the conservation of this shy, deer-like species extremely challenging.