Discovered Only 16 Yrs. Ago, The Saola, Rare Wild Cattle Species, Already Nearly Extinct

[hatrack]

GLAND, Switzerland, September 3, 2009 (ENS) - One of the world's rarest mammals, discovered just 16 years ago, is on the brink of extinction, warn conservation biologists after an emergency meeting in Laos to try to save the animal.

Shy and solitary, the Saola, Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, lives only in the remote valleys of the Annamite Mountains, along the border of Laos and Vietnam. With its white facial markings and long tapering horns, the animal resembles the desert antelopes of Arabia, but is more closely related to wild cattle.

"We are at a point in history when we still have a small but rapidly closing window of opportunity to conserve this extraordinary animal," says William Robichaud, based in Laos, who serves as coordinator of the Saola Working Group. "That window has probably already closed for another species of wild cattle, the Kouprey, and experts at this meeting are determined that the Saola not be next," Robichaud said.

Conservation biologists based in four countries met last month in the Loatian capital Vientiane. They agreed that Saola numbers appear to have declined sharply since its discovery in 1992, when it was already rare and restricted to a small range.

EDIT

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2009/2009-09-03-01.asp

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. What a beauty!

:cry: