Takin

Takin

　　The takin is a rare animal native to western China. Due to its large body size — weighing up to 300 kilograms — and bovine appearance, local residents in its habitat call it the "wild ox." When fully grown, its horns twist backward, which is why it is also known as the "twisted-horn antelope."

　　Takins live in high-altitude mountain forests or meadows at elevations of 2,000 to 4,000 meters. Those in Tibet and western Yunnan have dark brown fur, those in Qinghai and Sichuan are reddish-brown, while those in the Qinling Mountains are light brownish-yellow with a slight golden sheen, earning them the name "golden takin."

　　In the Taibai Mountains of the Qinling range, whether in coniferous forests, mixed forests, or dense bamboo groves, takins can be found. They have a wide range of activity, often spanning over a hundred kilometers. They prefer to live in groups; during winter, they usually form small groups of two or three, while in summer, they gather in larger herds of around ten, sometimes even thirty to fifty individuals. Each herd is led by a bull. In spring, when the high mountains are still covered in snow and ice, the herds move down to the valleys where vegetation begins to sprout. As summer temperatures rise, they move back up to higher altitudes, and when early winter snows arrive, they migrate again to mid-elevation areas for the winter.

　　When takins migrate vertically, they move in a line uphill, led by a “herd leader.” Adult bulls go first, followed by females, with calves in the middle, moving up the mountain one after another in an orderly fashion. When descending, they fan out in a semicircular formation.

　　During the day, takins feed on a variety of plants. When food on the ground is scarce, they can stand on their hind legs and use their front legs to pull down tree branches to reach leaves higher up. While resting or grazing, there is often a bull stationed on high ground to keep watch. Upon spotting danger, it signals the group with a slapping sound of its lips, making a “ba–ba–” noise, then leads the herd in flight.

　　Takins mate from June to August, and give birth from February to April of the following year. Most litters consist of a single calf, though twins are occasionally born.