SICHUAN TAKIN

TakinMap



Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus species: Budorcas taxicolor tibetiana

DESCRIPTION

  • Large head with arched muzzle and broad, naked nose.
  • Horns are found on both males and females and grow up to 20 inches long.
  • Long, shaggy hair; color, depending on subspecies, from whitish yellow to golden yellow to brown. There is is a dark stripe along the back. Males are 7 to 7.3 feet long and weigh 1000 pounds. Females are 5 to 6 feet long and weigh around 550 pounds

    HABITAT
  • Found in mountains at elevations of 6,400 to 16,000 feet in the grassy rocky high Alpine zone, mingling in clumps of bushes, bamboo or rhododendron jungles and mountain forests

    DIET
  • Grasses, herbs, leaves, buds and shoots

    BEHAVIOR
  • Live in small troops, sometimes large herds, old males are often solitary. Takin are slow and deliberate but can leap nimbly from rock to rock on rough slopes.

    REPRODUCTION
  • Mating season is August through September.
  • Gestation period is around 7 to 8 months.
  • Give birth to a single calf, rarely two
  • Wean after 1 month
  • Sexually mature at 2.5 years
  • Lifespan is 12 to 15 years

    PREDATORS
  • Bear, wolf and human

    CONSERVATION
  • Are threatened by habitat loss and poaching

    PERSONAL TIDBITS
  • The Red River Zoo has two takin on loan from the San Diego Zoo. Yuexi and Lailin were born in 1998

    For more information on the Sichuan Takin at the RRZ check out the Takin Ridge Blog.

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