In a study recently published in Cell, scientists from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), along with international collaborators, have successfully reconstructed the whole genome of the saola—one of the world's rarest mammals—using skin, hair, and bone samples from 26 saola individuals found in Vietnam.
This groundbreaking achievement marks a significant step in conserving a critically endangered species and offers renewed hope for saving species teetering on the brink of extinction—highlighting once again the miraculous resilience of nature.
The researchers discovered that the saola population is genetically divided into two distinct groups: one in the northern and one in the southern Annamite Mountains, likely separated between 5,000 and 20,000 years ago.
"Each population has lost different parts of the genetic code. But if we bring them together, they could complement each other, increasing the species' chances of survival," said Dr. Geneís Garcia Erill, co-author of the study.
Conservationists are now developing plans to search for and breed saola in captivity. Genetic simulations suggest that if at least 12 individuals representing both populations can be found, it would be entirely feasible to establish a new, genetically diverse population.
However, the most significant challenge lies in locating the saola in the wild—something no one has accomplished since 2013. Previous efforts have been unsuccessful, including environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling from stream water and even from blood found in forest leeches.
Now, with the complete genome available, scientists can develop more precise DNA detection tools, offering renewed hope of locating this elusive species.
"We now have a complete genetic map of the saola," said researcher Le Minh Duc from Vietnam National University, Hanoi. "This allows us to develop more advanced testing techniques to track genetic traces in the environment."
The saola is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated population of only a few dozen to a few hundred individuals remaining. The last confirmed image of a saola was captured by a camera trap in Laos in 2013, raising fears that the species may have gone extinct. Often referred to as the "Asian unicorn," the saola remains a mysterious animal, never directly observed by scientists in the wild.