Despite having two horns, saola is still called a unicorn due to their unique appearance. It is a rare bovine that not a lot of people know of, and that is my job to introduce such a species to you. While the information is so little, every single piece is still extremely fascinating; especially the look of this animal. Let’s take a look and see if you find them extraordinary as well.
1Appearance
An average saola reaches a height of around 84 centimeters at the shoulder, and 150 centimeters for head-and-body length. A saola has a chocolate brown coat with black dorsal stripes while its neck and belly have a paler shade of brown. Along with that, it has striking white patches on its face, throat, and sides of the neck. Saola has short and smooth hair on its head and neck, and it thickens on the animal’s belly and forelegs. More than that, it has a long brown tail that measures around 20 centimeters with a black tip. Both sexes have a pair of nearly parallel horns that can reach 50 centimeters in length which is their main feature. When threatened, they will snort and thrust their heads forward to point their horns at the intruders to strike them.
2Behavior
Saola is more active during the day, and they are occasionally active during the night as well. On hot days, they will just rest and come out to look for food at night instead. These bovines like to groom themselves, and their strong tongues are helpful with that. A saola has a large gland on its muzzle that it uses to attract mates and mark its territory. They also mark their territory by snapping small saplings with their horns which is quite unique. Generally, they are solitary but they also hang out in groups of two up to seven individuals sometimes. They usually only come together to mate, and the females will take care of the young. The young receive grooming, nourishment, and protection from their mothers. Despite being hunted by humans a lot, saola seems to be more terrified of dogs than humans.
3Feeding & Habitats
As herbivores, saola feed on a wide range of broad-leaved shrubs or trees as well as any plants they come across. Primarily, they eat ferns and flowering plants. Thanks to their long tongue, they can pull leaves from tall trees into their mouths with ease. This forest-dwelling bovine is very rare, in fact, it is one of the world’s rarest large mammals. Its range is in the eastern parts of Southeast Asia, where it is native to. Saola inhabits deciduous forests and wet evergreen forests in Laos and Vietnam, and they are fond of marshes, river valleys, and swamps. Unfortunately, saola is considered Critically Endangered on the IUCN List due to habitat fragmentation and habitat loss. Along with that, their population is also threatened by local hunting for illegal trade in furs, meat, and traditional medicines.
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