Sichuan takin

Budorcas taxicolor tibetana

Mysterious origins

Is it a gnu? A goat? A sheep? A muskox? A cow? To this day, the relationship between the takin and other animals in the Bovidae family is unclear. Takins are currently listed as the only members of the genus Budorcas.

Charakteristics

  • Origin

    central China (provinces of Sichuan and Gansu)

  • Habitat

    bamboo-covered slopes up to 3,500 metres above sea level

  • Diet

    Leaves, herbaceous plants, grasses

  • Status

    vulnerable

  • Size

    70 to 140 cm shoulder height

  • Weight

    150–350 kg

  • Gestation period

    seven to eight months

  • Achievable age

    up to 20 years

Threat Categories of IUCN

The perfect outdoor gear

Takins’ sturdy legs and broad hooves give them sure footing on rocky terrain. The animals are also well equipped for dealing with the damp climate of their natural habitat: glands in their skin coat their fur in a water-repellent oil.

Did you know?

Sichuan takins sometimes live in bamboo forests alongside giant pandas.
The young of several mothers live together in a “nursery”, watched over by one female.

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