Saola discovered in 1999 in Vietnam (Source: WWF) Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)signed a cooperation agreement in Hanoi on March 28 on the building of a protectionand breeding programme for the saola, one of the rarest and most threatenedmammals on the planet.
The signingceremony took place at a seminar which also introduced a memorandum of understandingon cooperation in the programme.
Speaking atthe event, head of the Department of Protective Forests for Special Use ManagementTran The Lien said Vietnam is well known by the international community for itsbiodiversity with special ecological systems, especially various species locatedin special-use forests.
In 2006, theGovernment issued action plans to protect several species, including elephants.By 2012, efforts to develop the elephant population were proved effective,laying a foundation for the preservation of tigers, bears, turtles, and other reptilesuntil 2020 with a vision to 2030.
Lien also urgedthe issuing of urgent policies and action plans to protect the saola, which isnow at high risk of extinction.
IUCN representativeWilliam Robichaud took the occasion to call for public involvement in theeffort.
The saola, scientificallyknown as Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, is dubbed the Asian Unicorn because it is sorarely seen, looks like an antelope in appearance, and is recognised by its twoparallel horns with sharp ends which can reach up to 50 cm in length.
The species was first discovered in May 1992 bya joint team from the MARD and the World Wide Fund for Nature during a tripsurveying Vu Quang National Park in the central province of Ha Tinh, nearVietnam’s border with Laos.
Scientists thenwent on to find an additional 20 creatures later that year. They were alsodiscovered around Truong Son range in provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, ThuaThien-Hue, Quang Nam, and other Lao localities.
At present, thereare saola preservation areas in Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, andQuang Nam provinces. –VNA
The signingceremony took place at a seminar which also introduced a memorandum of understandingon cooperation in the programme.
Speaking atthe event, head of the Department of Protective Forests for Special Use ManagementTran The Lien said Vietnam is well known by the international community for itsbiodiversity with special ecological systems, especially various species locatedin special-use forests.
In 2006, theGovernment issued action plans to protect several species, including elephants.By 2012, efforts to develop the elephant population were proved effective,laying a foundation for the preservation of tigers, bears, turtles, and other reptilesuntil 2020 with a vision to 2030.
Lien also urgedthe issuing of urgent policies and action plans to protect the saola, which isnow at high risk of extinction.
IUCN representativeWilliam Robichaud took the occasion to call for public involvement in theeffort.
The saola, scientificallyknown as Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, is dubbed the Asian Unicorn because it is sorarely seen, looks like an antelope in appearance, and is recognised by its twoparallel horns with sharp ends which can reach up to 50 cm in length.
The species was first discovered in May 1992 bya joint team from the MARD and the World Wide Fund for Nature during a tripsurveying Vu Quang National Park in the central province of Ha Tinh, nearVietnam’s border with Laos.
Scientists thenwent on to find an additional 20 creatures later that year. They were alsodiscovered around Truong Son range in provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, ThuaThien-Hue, Quang Nam, and other Lao localities.
At present, thereare saola preservation areas in Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, andQuang Nam provinces. –VNA
VNA
