When you hear “unicorn,” you probably think of something that looks like the photo to the right. Unfortunately, this mythical creature only exists in the imagination of ’80s babies, but it is based off of a similar looking animal called the saola.
Last seen in 1999, villagers in Laos spotted and captured a saola in late August 2010. Once hearing about the find, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Wildlife Conservation Society advised them to simply examine and release it. Lao authorities also urged villagers not to capture the saola, and while in captivity, the adult male died.
The endangered antelope-like animal is one of the most secretive creatures and has never been spotted by a biologist in the wild. It’s native to the mountain range between Laos and Vietnam and is thought there may only be 100 left in existence.
“This incident highlights the importance of Laos to global wildlife conservation. Saola and several other rare endemic species are found almost nowhere else in the world,” said Latsamay Sylavong, the national representative for the IUCN Lao program. “Our knowledge of them is limited, and in Laos we need to improve protection of both the ecosystems and the special species they hold, like the saola. Much needs to be done.”
View photo here.
Photo by Torley via Flickr.