Scientists Step Up Hunt For 'Asian Unicorn,' One of World's Rarest Animals (theguardian.com) 17
An anonymous reader shares a report: Weighing 80-100kg and sporting long straight horns, white spots on its face and large facial scent glands, the saola does not sound like an animal that would be hard to spot. But it was not until 1992 that this elusive creature was discovered, becoming the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years. Nicknamed the "Asian unicorn," the saola continues to be elusive. They have never been seen by a biologist in the wild and have been camera-trapped only a handful of times. There are reports of villagers trying to keep them in captivity but they have died after a few weeks, probably due to the wrong diet. It was during a survey of wildlife in the remote Vu Quang nature reserve, a 212 square mile forested area of north central Vietnam, in 1992, that biologist Do Tuoc came across two skulls and a pair of trophy horns belonging to an unknown animal.
Twenty more specimens, including a complete skin, were subsequently collected and, in 1993, laboratory tests revealed the animal to be not only a new species, but an entirely new genus in the bovid family, which includes cattle, sheep, goats and antelopes. Initially named Vu Quang Ox, the animal was later called saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) -- meaning "spindle horns," the arms or posts (sao) of a spinning wheel (la) according to Lao-speaking ethnic groups in Laos and neighbouring Vietnam. The discovery was hailed as one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century but less than 30 years later the saola population is believed to have declined massively due to commercial wildlife poaching, which has exploded in Vietnam since 1994. Even though the saola is not directly targeted by poachers, intensive commercial snaring that supplies animals for use in traditional Asian medicine or as bushmeat serves as the primary threat.
Twenty more specimens, including a complete skin, were subsequently collected and, in 1993, laboratory tests revealed the animal to be not only a new species, but an entirely new genus in the bovid family, which includes cattle, sheep, goats and antelopes. Initially named Vu Quang Ox, the animal was later called saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) -- meaning "spindle horns," the arms or posts (sao) of a spinning wheel (la) according to Lao-speaking ethnic groups in Laos and neighbouring Vietnam. The discovery was hailed as one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century but less than 30 years later the saola population is believed to have declined massively due to commercial wildlife poaching, which has exploded in Vietnam since 1994. Even though the saola is not directly targeted by poachers, intensive commercial snaring that supplies animals for use in traditional Asian medicine or as bushmeat serves as the primary threat.
The real cryptid challenge (Score:2)
Now go find the "Deeply Profitable Silicon Valley Unicorn." It's even harder to find than a lost of colony of Loch Ness Monster-surfing Bigfoots.
Asian unicorns are not that rare (Score:2)
Alibaba, Bytedance, DJI, Alisports, 4paradigm... And those are only a few.
Re: (Score:3)
Alibaba, Bytedance, DJI, Alisports, 4paradigm... And those are only a few.
Yes, but this stock is so much better. It has quite a bit more umami.
It's basically a jungle antelope. (Score:3)
With horns going back straight, because horns going off to the side are probably not evolutionarily useful when you keep getting stuck on branches.
Re: (Score:2)
Bwaahhaaah . . . . . . . . Bwaahhaah, - oh another goat is stuck in the fence.
Just put up a few fences with large square openings, they'll get one.
"Asian Unicorn" (Score:3)
Sounds like an OnlyFans profile; probably not what (most) scientists are looking for... :-)
Re: (Score:2)
Sounds like an OnlyFans profile; probably not what (most) scientists are looking for... :-)
Everyone will be disappointed [forbesimg.com].
Re: (Score:2)
Urban Dictionary of course, explains what an Asian Unicorn is:
Asian Unicorn
Hot Asian girl with a booty
Did you see that Asian girl with the booty? She’s a real Asian Unicorn
by Redman2286 September 09, 2021
So "Unicorn" because they're rare? (Score:3)
Because they clearly have 2 horns, hence not "uni."
Adorable and I hope they can be protected. Amazing discovery, poor journalism.
Not a unicorn. (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
I like eating bicorn meat, also the unisnout and the bileg.
Too late (Score:3)
They ate the last one.
Re: (Score:2)
Its name was Democracy.
When exposure is bad. (Score:2)
The discovery was hailed as one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century but less than 30 years later the saola population is believed to have declined massively due to commercial wildlife poaching, which has exploded in Vietnam since 1994.
The dangers of coming out of the closet.
Too Late (Score:2)
Too Late, we ate them into extinction years ago.
https://www.amazon.com/Think-G... [amazon.com]
But (Score:2)
But there are quite a few Asian unicorns in silicon valley.