The Takin Budorcas taxicolor
These amazing and rare animals are not widely known, nor are they commonly kept at zoos. Takins occur in the elevations from 2,000 to 4,500 meters in India, Tibet, Nepal, and China. Their habitats range from rocky, grass covered alpine zones to the forests with undergrowth of bamboos and rhododendrons. Takins are attached to their home territory and are very reluctant to move to any other place, even when they face forest logging. The size of the takin herd changes with the seasons: during spring and early summer, herds can number up to 300 animals; during winter months, the large herds break up into smaller groups of 10 to 35 takins as they head up the mountain. Although takins may seem clumsy, they are really fast and skilful; when they are threatened, they may run pretty fast but in case of immediate danger they tend to hide, lying down and stretching their necks. However strange, they are so inconspicuous while lying absolutely quiet so that some people claim that it is easy to step on a muskox without even noticing it on the ground. Scientists were unaware of the existence of the takin until 1950, when this species was discovered. Long time has passed but little is known yet about takins because these animals are very secretive and shy. In 1985, George B. Schaller of the New York Zoological Society and his Chinese colleagues recorded their encounters with takins and later presented some details about biology of these animals. Schaller reported that young takins spend many hours each day tended by one female in a "kindergarten" while the mothers forage and socialize. Takins feed primarily on deciduous leaves and shoots found on trees or shrubs, but also on grasses and herbs. Schaller compiled a list of plants that takins eat, which included 138 food species. Zoologists observed takins balancing on hind legs to nip branch tips above the ground. The takin can push a thin tree trunk until it breaks, and then bend and straddle a tree trunk for leisurely browsing. After takins finish with their eating, the underbrush looks as thought it was lost to hurricane.
Not long time ago wild takins were hunted by local people, and sometimes caught to be sent to zoos. Strict protection measures were taken in China in 1988: a National Wildlife Law stipulated protection of all subspecies of the takin (as well as the giant panda) by their inclusion under Category I. As of 2003, fourteen nature reserves were established for protection of takin and their habitat. Population size started increasing. However, hunting is not the only threat to the takin; habitat destruction caused by deforestation also seriously affects these animals. The takin is included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as “vulnerable”.
Four subspecies of the takin are currently recognised, which tend to show a variation in coat colour: Sichuan takin, Budorcas taxicolor tibetana; Mishmi takin, B.t. taxicolor; Shaanxi takin (also called golden takin), B.t. bedfordi; and Bhutan takin, B.t. whitei. Sichuan takins are kept at the Moscow Zoo and a large herd of Mishmi takins lives in Tierpark Berlin.
Бирманский такин Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor
Сычуаньский такин Budorcas taxicolor tibetana
Золотистый такин Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi
