Asian antelope could be nearing its extinction

Discovered in 1992 at the hostile areas of Laos and Vietnam, the Saola antelope is at the narrow edge of extinction, according to experts.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said Thursday that the rare antelope could be nearing its extinction and measures must be implemented to preserve the endangered species. A close relative of the wild cattle, the saola antelope has rarely been seen or photographed. According to estimates there are only about several dozens of saola left in the wild. "Its wild population may number only in the dozens, and it is certainly not more than a few hundred," Barney Long an expert from the IUCN told Reuters. The IUCN hopes to heighten awareness and launch an intensive campaign in Laos and Vietnam to stop further hunting and preserve the majestic animal.