Takin Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Takin

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Bovidae
Subfamily:	Caprinae
Genus:	Budorcas
Species:	B. taxicolor
Binomial name
*Budorcas taxicolor* Hodgson, 1850
Subspecies
B. t. bedfordi B. t. taxicolor B. t. tibetana B. t. whitei

The Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) is a unique animal that looks a bit like a goat and an antelope. It lives in the high mountains of the Himalayas in places like Sikkim, northern Assam, northern Myanmar, and parts of China. The Takin is very special to Bhutan, where it is the national animal.

What Does a Takin Look Like?
Where Takin Live
- Takin in Zoos
Takin Life and Habits
Status of Takin
Gallery
See also

What Does a Takin Look Like?

The Takin is one of the largest and strongest animals in its family, which includes goats and sheep. It has short, strong legs with large hooves. Each hoof has two toes and a well-developed spur, which helps it walk on rocky ground.

Body and Head Features

Takin have a strong body and a deep chest. Their large head stands out with a long, curved nose. They also have thick horns that are ridged at the bottom. Both male and female Takin have these horns. The horns grow close to the head before curving upwards to a point. They are usually about 30 cm (12 in) long, but some can grow up to 64 cm (25 in).

Coat and Color Variations

Takin have a long, shaggy coat. It is usually light in color with a dark stripe along their back. Male Takin often have dark faces. There are four different types of Takin, and their fur colors can vary a lot. Their thick fur is often black on their undersides and legs.

The overall color can range from dark blackish or reddish-brown in the eastern Himalayas. It can be lighter yellow-gray in the Sichuan Province of China. Some Takin are mostly golden or even creamy-white with fewer black hairs in the Shaanxi Province.

The old story of the 'Golden Fleece', which Jason and the Argonauts searched for, might have been inspired by the shiny coat of the golden takin. The length of their hair changes with the seasons. It can be as short as 3 cm (1.2 in) in summer and as long as 24 cm (9.4 in) on their head in winter.

Size and Weight

Takin stand about 97 to 140 cm (38 to 55 in) tall at the shoulder. Their body length, from head to tail, is about 160–220 cm (63–87 in). Their tail is quite short, adding only 12 to 21.6 cm (4.7 to 8.5 in).

Males are usually a bit bigger than females. Males weigh around 300–350 kg (660–770 lb), while females weigh about 250–300 kg (550–660 lb). Some very large Takin can weigh up to 400 kg (880 lb) or even 600 kg (1,300 lb).

Unique Scent

Instead of having specific scent glands, the Takin produces an oily, strong-smelling substance all over its body. This might be why their face sometimes looks a bit swollen. One biologist, George Schaller, said a Takin looked like a "bee-stung moose" because of this. People have also called them "cattle chamois" or "gnu goat" because of their mix of features.

Where Takin Live

Takin live in different types of places, from forests in valleys to rocky, grassy areas high in the mountains. They can be found at altitudes between 1,000 and 4,500 m (3,300 and 14,800 ft) above sea level.

The Mishmi Takin lives in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, India. The Bhutan Takin is found in western Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan. The Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve in India is an important home for both Mishmi and Bhutan Takin.

Takin in Zoos

You can also find Takin in some zoos and wildlife centers. For example, there is a group of Takin at The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio, in North America. They are part of a special plan to help protect the species. You can also see Takin at the Minnesota Zoo, San Diego Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, Red River Zoo, Roger Williams Park Zoo, and Riverview Park & Zoo in Canada.

Takin Life and Habits

Takin usually live in small family groups of about 20 animals. However, older males might prefer to live alone. In the summer, large groups of up to 300 Takin gather high on the mountain slopes. These big groups often form where there is good food, salt licks, or warm springs.

Reproduction and Young

A female Takin gives birth to one baby after being pregnant for about eight months.

Migration and Behavior

In winter, Takin move from the high mountain pastures to lower, more forested areas. They like to find sunny spots when the sun rises. If they feel threatened, a Takin will make a 'cough' sound to warn the others. The whole group will then hide in thick bamboo bushes and lie on the ground to blend in.

What Takin Eat

Takin eat in the early morning and late afternoon. They graze on many different types of leaves and grasses. They also enjoy bamboo shoots and flowers. They have even been seen standing on their back legs to reach leaves over 3.1 m (10 ft) high. Salt is very important for their diet. Groups of Takin might stay at a mineral deposit for several days to get enough salt.

Predators

Takin share their home with several animals that might try to hunt them. These include the Asian black bear, leopard, and sometimes tigers, gray wolves, snow leopards, and dholes. Bears and wolves are known to hunt Takin when they get the chance. However, the only animal confirmed to regularly hunt Takin is the snow leopard. Adult Takin are very large, so they might be too big for snow leopards to hunt often.

The main predator of Takin is humans. People sometimes hunt Takin for their meat, which is considered tasty by local people. They are also hunted for their fur. Humans have learned that Takin love salt licks, which makes it easy to find and hunt them there.

Status of Takin

Takin are facing challenges, mainly because of too much hunting and the loss of their natural homes. Because of this, they are considered "Endangered" in China. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists them as "Vulnerable." While they are not naturally a very common animal, their numbers have gone down quite a lot.

Takin horns have been found in illegal wildlife trade in Myanmar. Between 1999 and 2006, surveys in one market found 89 sets of Takin horns openly for sale.