Bring the observation data.
Download a country pack with bird and mammal records and available species portraits. Installed wildlife data works offline. Uncached background map tiles still need internet.
Birds. Mammals. Your own interests.
Plan your next
wildlife trip.
Explore wildlife records, bring your target species into focus, and decide where to look next.
SAOLA is a free Android app for birdwatchers, mammalwatchers, photographers and anyone who travels with wildlife in mind.
Android · closed testing · no account required in SAOLA
A REAL VIEW FROM SAOLATasmania, Australia
Screenshot & map credits
From the first idea to the field
A map for
your kind of trip.
Keep recording sightings on the platforms you already use. SAOLA helps you explore the evidence and make it personal.
Bring its wildlife records with you.
Your interests lead the search.
Keep a Seen list or import a life list. Use Not Seen to explore new species, or create a Species Group for the animals you want to find — including favourites you have already seen.
Look closer, then make your own plan.
Search species, use taxon and month filters, inspect photos and explore recorded locations. SAOLA gives you context for your own decisions, rather than a promised sighting or automatic itinerary.
The name behind the mapWhy SAOLA?
The search is
part of the experience.
The saola, Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, is an exceptionally elusive mammal. Its name captures a simple idea: some of the most rewarding wildlife experiences begin with looking for something difficult to find.
SAOLA helps you decide where to look. The discovery is still yours.
A name inspired by curiosity, not a promise of sightings. Learn about the animal at IUCN
Pack your next destination
Where are you headed?
Birds and mammals, one country at a time.
Check Data Packs in the app for the latest availability.
21 countries · snapshot 2026-10-09
- ArgentinaAR
- ArmeniaAM
- AustraliaAU
- BelgiumBE
- BurundiBI
- FranceFR
- GabonGA
- GeorgiaGE
- GermanyDE
- GreeceGR
- IndiaIN
- ItalyIT
- JordanJO
- NepalNP
- NetherlandsNL
- New ZealandNZ
- PortugalPT
- SpainES
- ThailandTH
- TürkiyeTR
- Viet NamVN
Somewhere else in mind?Suggest a country
Before you head out
Useful to know.
Good planning starts with knowing what the map can — and cannot — tell you.
What does a wildlife record tell me?
That a species was recorded at a place and time. Wildlife moves, records can be old, and recording effort varies. A busy map does not mean a better chance of a sighting; a quiet map does not mean a species is absent.
Check dates and sources where available, local conditions and access. Sensitive locations may be approximate. Do not use the map to disclose or pursue sensitive wildlife locations; respect wildlife, landowners and local restrictions.
Data sources, licensing & limitationsWhat works without a connection?
Downloaded country wildlife records, species lists and locally available portraits. Download the countries you need before leaving.
The geographic background is different: uncached map tiles need internet and may be blank offline. Country packs do not currently provide a complete offline road or terrain map. Bring a suitable offline navigation map separately.
How can I try SAOLA?
SAOLA is currently in Google Play closed testing on Android. It is free, but is not yet generally available. Email to request access; we will reply with the current test instructions. Google Play may require a Google account to join the test.
There is no iOS app or public browser planning tool currently available.
Where does my personal list live?
Seen lists and Species Groups are stored locally in the app; SAOLA does not require its own account. Use the app's export/backup tools and keep a separate copy of any irreplaceable life list while testing.
Country downloads and online map backgrounds contact external services. Read the app privacy policy for the details. This website cannot read your app data.
What is being explored next?
Personalised area discovery: comparing areas using the species that matter to you, the season and available evidence. It is research, not a currently available recommendation feature. Automatic route planning and Trainer are also not available in the closed-test release.
There are no promised dates. Feedback from real wildlife travel helps decide what is worth building.
Help shape a field tool
Try it on your
next wildlife search.
Interested in the Android closed test? Send a short email and we will reply with access instructions.
Request test accessAlready using SAOLA?
Tell us what helped — or what got in the way. For a problem, include your app version, country and the steps that led to it. Share screenshots only if you want to.
You do not need to send a personal list, exact location or sensitive species coordinates.
Send feedback Email opens your mail app. Nothing is sent automatically.An independent project
Support, if you wish.
If SAOLA is useful to you, you can choose to support its development. Entirely voluntary; it never unlocks features, content or benefits.