SEPTEMBER - Saola

Pseudoryx nghetinhensis

Meet the Saola

Deep within the forests along the border of Laos and Vietnam lives an animal so mysterious that it has earned the nickname “Asian unicorn.”

The saola isn't mythical—but seeing one is extraordinarily rare.

Scientists only discovered the species in 1992 after unusual horns were found during a biological survey. The discovery of an entirely unknown large mammal stunned the scientific world.

With a dark brown coat, striking white facial markings, and two long, nearly parallel horns, the saola resembles an antelope. However, it is actually a member of the cattle family.

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Pseudoryx nghetinhensis
Range: Laos and Vietnam
Habitat: Moist forests of the Annamite Mountains
Diet: Primarily vegetation
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

What Makes Them Special?

Almost everything about the saola is mysterious.

Scientists have never conducted a detailed study of a healthy saola population in the wild, and very few people have ever seen one alive.

Its discovery also demonstrated something incredible: even in the modern world, large animals can remain scientifically unknown in remote habitats.

Their Role in the Ecosystem

Because saolas are so difficult to study, scientists still have much to learn about their ecological role.

As herbivores, however, they likely interact with forest vegetation and contribute to the complex relationships between plants and animals within their ecosystem.

Protecting saola habitat also protects countless other species living in the Annamite forests.

What Threatens Them?

One of the greatest threats to the saola is snaring.

Wire snares placed throughout forests to capture wildlife don't discriminate between species. Even when hunters aren't specifically targeting saolas, the animals can become trapped.

Habitat loss and fragmentation add additional pressure to an already extremely small population.

Conservation in Action

Conservation organizations are working with communities and governments in Laos and Vietnam to remove snares, protect habitat, improve wildlife monitoring, and prevent illegal hunting.

Scientists are also searching for evidence of surviving saolas using technologies such as camera traps and environmental DNA.

How You Can Help

Support organizations working against illegal wildlife trafficking and indiscriminate snaring.

You can also help by talking about species like the saola. Animals that almost nobody knows exist can easily disappear without much of the world noticing.

Did You Know?

• The saola was only scientifically discovered in 1992.

• Both males and females have long horns.

• Despite its nickname, it isn't closely related to a unicorn—or even a horse.

• Scientists still don't know exactly how many remain.

• Photographs of living wild saolas are exceptionally rare.

AUGUST - Andean Mountain Cat

Leopardus jacobita

Meet the Andean Mountain Cat

High among the rocky slopes of the Andes lives one of the world's most mysterious wild cats. The Andean mountain cat is so elusive that for years, scientists knew very little about how it lived in the wild.

About the size of a large house cat, it has thick grayish fur, dark markings, and an exceptionally long, fluffy, ringed tail. Its dense coat helps it survive the freezing temperatures and harsh winds of its mountainous home.

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Leopardus jacobita
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru
Habitat: Rocky, high-elevation regions of the Andes and Patagonian steppe
Diet: Small mammals, particularly mountain viscachas, as well as other small prey
Conservation Status: Endangered

What Makes Them Special?

One of the Andean mountain cat's most recognizable features is its enormous tail, which can measure around two-thirds the length of its body. Scientists believe the tail may help the cat balance while navigating steep, rocky terrain.

They're also remarkably difficult to observe. Camera traps, genetic samples, and other noninvasive techniques have become especially important for studying a species that researchers rarely encounter face-to-face.

Their Role in the Ecosystem

As predators of small mammals, Andean mountain cats are part of the delicate food webs of high-altitude ecosystems. Protecting them also means protecting the mountain habitats and prey species they depend upon.

What Threatens Them?

Their small, fragmented populations face several threats, including habitat degradation, reductions in prey, interactions with domestic animals, and killing by humans.

Mining and expanding infrastructure can also alter the remote landscapes these cats depend upon.

Conservation in Action

Researchers across South America are using camera traps, genetic research, community education, and habitat protection to better understand and conserve the species.

Because the cats cross national borders, their survival also requires cooperation between multiple countries and local communities.

How You Can Help

Support organizations that protect wild cats and Andean ecosystems, learn about where materials used in everyday products are sourced, and share information about lesser-known endangered species.

Simply helping more people discover animals like the Andean mountain cat can make their conservation harder to overlook.

Did You Know?

• The Andean mountain cat wasn't photographed in the wild until relatively recently.

• Its thick coat is an adaptation to an extremely cold environment.

• Its long tail is marked with distinctive dark rings.

• Scientists often rely on camera traps to find them.

• It is one of South America's rarest and least-understood cats.