Saola

The EWCL-ST secured funding through World Wildlife Fund’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature (EFN) to conduct a workshop in the Quang Nam Province of Vietnam. The EFN workshop provided training to rangers related to the importance of saola conservation, snare-removal techniques, and identification of key challenges. The EWCL-ST worked with partners in Vietnam to organize the workshop and prepare materials. Thanks to additional funds from the EWCL board, two EWCL-ST members were able to attend and assist in the facilitation of the workshop. Additionally, the team members were able to collect valuable photographs, interviews and video for saola awareness campaigns.

The EWCL-ST facilitated collaboration between SWG members, prepared materials and designed a website to be launched in conjunction with the saolas’ premiere at the Wildlife Conservation Network Expo in San Francisco. The EWCL-ST teamed up with SWG at the Expo and provided much needed awareness about saola conservation and raised funds. The saola website, www.savethesaola.org (1,570 viewers as of December, 2010), was developed to serve as a centralized source of information for the public, in relation to saola conservation needs, as well as individuals and organizations involved in saola conservation. The website also provides numerous opportunities to make donations to the saola conservation effort via the internet, a function that did not exist before. In summary, the EWCL-ST provided training for 10 rangers and worked with 8 government officials in Vietnam, raised over $11,588 in funds to support saola conservation, developed key logos and website for marketing (representing $2,800 of in-kind contributions) and created the first saola video that will be used by saola conservation partners (e.g., SWG, WWF and the Cologne Zooe) for fundraising and awareness raising.