The renowned “Asian Unicorn” mountain home is now better protected thanks to a new national park.

Photo Credit ( Greetyimage )

 With the creation of Xesap National Park (NP), the Laos DPR government recently dedicated a sizable region of hills and tropical forests to conservation.

The 49,000-hectare Pale area, which is believed to be an important and largely intact habitat for important species, is part of the 202,300-hectare protected area that has previously been expanded with support from Western endowments and charity organisations.

With thanks to Pakham Outhanikone Laos WWF
Some of the most endangered species in Asia can only be found at Xesap National Park, a biodiversity hotspot tucked away in the Annamite mountain ranges.

The renowned Saola, commonly referred to as the “Asian Unicorn,” has been observed at Xesap National Park, one of the few locations in the Annamites. It is believed to have great potential as a site for population recovery.

Only in 1992 did a local ecologist discover the Saola. The species is designated as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and the initial few that survived captivity have since perished.

Instead of having a single horn like the legendary animal that graciously gave this oryx relative its name, the Saola has two horns that grow so closely together that, from a distance or from the side, it may appear to have a single long horn.

“This classification, in our opinion, is an important step towards strengthening conservation initiatives and guaranteeing the long-term management of Xesap’s abundant natural resources. WWF-Laos commends the Lao government for this noteworthy accomplishment and is committed to helping administer the park through our long-standing collaboration with the provinces of Salavan and Sekong,” said Loris Palentini, WWF-Laos’ country director, in a statement.

Fascinating creatures like the elusive Roosevelt’s muntjac, the vivid red-shanked douc, the uncommon Annamite-striped rabbit, and the gorgeous crested argus roam around in the shadow of the so-called unicorn. The Annamites are home to a staggering number of newly discovered species, including some large mammal species that have been described for the first time by science in the past century.

With about 35 villages spread across the Salavan and Sekong provinces, Xesap National Park is currently one of seven NPs in the Laos Democratic Republic. The statement said that Xesap’s designation as an NP from a National Protected Area is a well-earned acknowledgement of its ecological significance in the Greater Mekong, with its vertiginous mountains, limestone karst hills, forested valleys, and incredibly rich biodiversity and endemism.