Magazine of the species survival Commission specialist Group - IUCN

specialist group exchange
strengthened measures are taken to
conserve the species and its habitat in
the future.
For more information on the Asian
Wild Cattle SG, please visit
www.asianwildcattle.org.
James Burton
Chair, Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group
Bison SG –
European section
An update on the European Bison
Conservation Centre (EBCC)
Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis). © Bolikhamxay Provincial Conservation Unit
reached Lao authorities, the
Bolikhamxay Provincial Agriculture and
Forestry Office immediately sent a
technical team, advised by the IUCN
Saola Working Group and the Lao
Programme of the Wildlife Conservation
Society (WCS), to examine the Saola
and release it. Unfortunately, the animal,
weakened by the ordeal of several days
in captivity, died shortly after the team
reached the remote village. Following its
death, the technical team took the
carcass to Pakxan, the provincial
capital, where all parts were preserved
for analysis and future reference. This is
the first Saola specimen to be so
completely preserved. The Lao
Department of Forestry (DoF) and
provincial and district authorities are
urging villagers in the area not to
capture Saola, and immediately release
any they might encounter.
The Saola was first discovered in
1992, in Vietnam’s Vu Quang Nature
Reserve near the country’s border with
Laos, and this new sighting is the only
confirmed record of the species since
two photographs of wild Saola were
taken in Laos by automatic camera
traps in 1999. Saola are secretive and
so seldom seen (no biologist has ever
reported seeing one in the wild) that
they have been likened to unicorns, in
spite of the fact that they have two
horns. The species is listed as Critically
Endangered on the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species and probably no
more than a few hundred exist. The
confirmation of the continued existence
of this species is welcome news, and
with very little currently known about
the Saola, it is hoped that the
information gained from this latest
incident can be used to ensure that
The world population of Bison bonasus
has increased steadily in the last few
years, exceeding 4,000 individuals by
the end of 2008. A portion of the
population, approximately 40%, is
maintained in captivity, but in the
eastern part of Europe there are a
number of free-roaming herds. There
has been a growing interest
surrounding this species recently,
particularly in relation to herds kept in
large enclosures. Our aim is to maintain
this interest within the framework
presented in the Action Plan, which
highlights the following: proper
management of the species’ gene pool;
isolation of two genetic lines; and
assuring the welfare of the animals.
Conservation programmes for this
species must be well-organized, with
the cooperation of the whole of Europe.
This task is being fulfilled by the
European Bison Friends Society,
through the long-term European Bison
Conservation Centre (EBCC) project
whose purpose is to coordinate
activities connected with the protection
of the species in Europe, and manage
the status of European Bison both in
captivity and in the wild. This was
launched three years ago, and began
with the collection and distribution of all
possible information about the species,
applying population genetics methods
to evaluate data from International
Pedigree Books. The European Bison is
a highly inbred species, though it is still
possible to manage this low genetic
variability in order to prevent further
losses. DNA samples were also
collected which, in the future, may allow
for genetic profiles to be created for
each individual kept in captivity.
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