Posted on October, 01 2023

The campaign underscores that forest conservation is fundamental for preserving Saola, protecting ecosystems and benefitting community livelihoods. This message is conveyed through the "Saola diary" recounting authentic and vivid stories in the Central Annamites that have never been released. WWF and its partners will disseminate these stories through various channels, including reputable media outlets, national television broadcasts and social media platforms, with the aim to engage prestigious journalists, artists and social influencers.

"Saola and other endangered species are threatened by poaching and human development activities”, said Mr Nguyen Van Tri Tin, WWF-Viet Nam’s Wildlife Practice Lead. “WWF-Viet Nam has proactively supported and implemented many Saola conservation activities since Saola’s discovery, including supporting the establishment of protected areas, conducting research, monitoring biodiversity and recruiting forest guards to patrol to remove traps in protected areas since 2011."

In addition to engaging communities nationwide, the campaign aims to raise awareness of youth in the range of 12-25 years old in the six central provinces, including Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, and Quang Nam. Those are also the areas where the "Saving Saola from the brink of extinction" project is conducting an intensive search for Saola. 

By increasing awareness of Saola, the campaign significantly enhances Saola recognition across the Central Annamites and encourages communities to provide valuable information for Saola's detection and conservation endeavors. These efforts are part of a broader vision: to establish the first-ever conservation breeding center for rare and threatened animals and someday return them to the wild when it is safe.