In the bio diverse forests of Vietnam, the animal known as the "Asian Unicorn," "the holy grail for South East Asian conservationists," and "one of the most spectacular species discoveries of the 20th century," according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), was spotted in the wild for the first time since 1998, the world news site Global Post reported.

More technically, the creature is a long horned ox called the saola. It's one of the most endangered species on earth, according to Global Post.

Cousin of the antelope, cow, and goat, the species, as seen in the photos, has soft fur that ranges from medium chocolate brown to reddish brown, a squat build, a pattern of white paint strokes dashed in an abstract pattern on its face, and two long, straight horns that span up to 20 inches, or twice the length of its head, according to Global Post

"When our team first looked at the photos we couldn't believe our eyes. Saola are the holy grail for South East Asian conservationists so there was a lot of excitement," said Van Ngoc Thinh, WWF Vietnam's country director.

"This is a breathtaking discovery and renews hope for the recovery of the species," Thinh added.

Conservationists estimate there to be anywhere from a few dozen saolas left in the wild to a few hundred, Global Post reported. Given their stealthy nature, the "Asian Unicorns" are extremely difficult to track, and they were only first discovered in 1992. ("The first large mammal discovery in 50 years," the WWF said at the time.)

The saola captured in the picture was found in an patch of woods patrolled by WWF-sponsored forest rangers hired to rid the area of animal traps and protect against poaching. Its sighting is evidence that conservation efforts are effective in a region of the world (including Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Yunnan) where 126 new species were discovered last year. The WWF increased its influence in Vietnam to reinforce lax conservation policies practiced by the Vietnamese government.

"Confirmation of the presence of the Saola in this area is a testament to the dedicated and tireless efforts of these forest guards," said Thinh.