SAOLA
READ BY Sydney viengluang
Season 1
Yann learns that her unicorn magic cannot bring her father or her herd back.
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sydney viengluang
Born in Laos, Viengluang's family escaped from an oppressive communist regime and spent the first two years of her life in refugee camps. They eventually resettled in Kansas, where she was raised. Upon graduating college, Viengluang moved to LA and has been working ever since. Her credits include: Z Nation, Criminal Minds, Scorpion, Jane the Virgin. When not on set, Viengluang is involved with Laos Angeles, a community that seeks to advocate and advance Lao/tian identity and representation in mainstream media.
The Saola, also known as the Asian unicorn, is a forest dwelling bovine related to goats and antelopes. This beautiful and enigmatic mammal was discovered in May 1992 in north-central Vietnam. A rare zoological discovery, the Saola proved not only to be the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years but one of the most spectacular finds of the 20th century.
Locals have reported the Saola to be active during the day as well as at night, but prefers resting during the muggy midday hours. Its aversion to human proximity as well as a restrictive habitat are likely to endanger it through fragmentation. Local hunting and the illegal trade in furs, traditional medicines, and meals in restaurants and markets all contribute to the decline of the Saola, which is currently listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List.
Few mammals are as at risk as the Saola. The exact population is unknown, but scientists estimate there may be only 100 to 500 individuals remaining. But there are some things we can do to ensure that the Saola has a fighting chance.
A new species of living bovid from Vietnam. Dung. 1993
Saola WWF factsheet: saola
how can we help?
The importance of being an advocate for endangered species in today's crowded world goes further than you can imagine. The more you learn and share with your friends and family about the Saola and its habitat, the better chance it has for survival. The Saola Working Group is the world's foremost organization working on Saola conservation. To learn more about Saolas and their habitat, please visit their website www.savethesaola.org and get creative with awareness and taking action.
The Saola Foundation for Annamite Mountains Conservation is a new, US-registered non-profit organization, and the only chartered organization in the world focused on Saola conservation. Learn more about their program (focused mainly on Laos) and how you can support it at www.saolafoundation.org