Fun Golden Takin Facts For Kids

In the mountains, hidden among the rugged terrains away from human habitation, lives the lesser-known mammal, the golden takin. At first, one can only know about this animal through word of mouth. However, as one learns more about this mammal, the more it is fascinating.

It is a beautiful creature with golden brown fur. It is all more attractive in the wild. Some of the interesting facts about this stocky creature are listed here. The big muzzle helps to warm the icy air that it breathes. Its impermeable fur, lubricated by oil secreted by its skin, resists the biting cold temperatures. The fur can be 9.8 in (25 cm) thick on its throat and neck. Male takins wet their forelegs, chest, face with urine, and females soak their tails to communicate sexual status and identity.

There are also many folktales and stories about this creature. Please find out more about this golden takin and go through our other articles about Aurochs and giant ground sloths.

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What type of animal is golden takin?

Golden takin is also called a goat antelope. It is closely related to sheep. A face with a large arched nose makes it look like a moose. It has similarities with the muskox as well. They are also known as cattle chamois or gnu goats.

What class of animal does golden takin belong to?

Takins belong to the Mammalia class and Bovidae family. In addition, there are four subspecies in the Caprinae subfamily. These include Mishmi takin (Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor), golden takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi), Tibetan or Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana), and Bhutan takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei).

How many golden takins are there in the world?

The exact information on the population of Golden takins is not known. However, their population distribution is declining in the wild. The major factors for this decline are human encroachments in their habitat region, fragmentation of the nature reserve, and poaching.

Where does golden takin live?

Golden takins are native to the Qin Mountains in the southern Shaanxi province of China. They are also found in several rivers in Taibai, Ningshan, and Zhouzhi. Golden takins are known to enter caves, most likely to find protection from adverse weather conditions at Foping Nature Reserve. They also prefer bamboo forests for their diet.

What is a golden takin's habitat?

The Golden takin habitat is mainly temperate conifer forests, mountainous grasslands, and shrublands. As the height, they live on increases, the type of vegetation varies. From the deciduous forest and mixed coniferous broadleaf forest ranges to the subalpine coniferous range to subalpine meadows range. They live at sea levels above 3000 ft ( 1000 yards) and can travel up to 14000 ft (4666.6 yards) above sea level during summer.

Who do golden takins live with?

Golden takins, like other hoofed animals, always live in large herds. Though adult males prefer to live a solitary life, younger ones stick to their families of about 8-10. In general, they are seen together in summer herds of up to 300, but when food is less plentiful in nature, the herds arw distributed in smaller groups.

How long does golden takin live?

The average lifespan of Golden takins is between 12-18 years in their natural habitat. Because of their stocky built and difficult terrain habitat, they do not have any natural predators in the wild, and most of the animals make it to their maximum longevity.

How do they reproduce?

Golden takins reproduce by the process of sexual reproduction. They reach sexual maturity at two and a half years of age. The male Takins in the herd participate in dramatic courtship battles with each other. Males combat by sparring head to head. Both adult females and males use the scent, the pheromones, to indicate sexual status and identity. The breeding season starts around August. After an incubation period of about eight months, the female gives birth to the young one. The young follow their mother for a few minutes after their birth. The juvenile is weaned off to feed on it at two months of age. The young stick to its mother until the subsequent offspring is born. The males live on their own and do not contribute to caring for the young after birth.

What is their conservation status?

According to the IUCN Red List, the conservation status of Golden takins is Vulnerable. Human development activities in their native habitat, as well as poaching and Golden takin hunting in the nature reserve, have resulted in a significant decrease in their population dispersion. Hence, they are legally protected by the National Wildlife Protection Law of 1988 and nature reserves in Shaanxi. Also, zoos are keeping and breeding these animals in other parts of the world. You can see Golden takin at Denver Zoo and San Diego Zoo in North America.

What does golden takin look like?

Golden takins are furry animals. They have long, thick, oily, and hairy fur. They have a stocky build, but the two hooved legs are short. They are taller at the shoulder than at the hips. The large arched nose and small rigid, pointed horns on its head make the animal get another name as the goat antelope, with similarities with muskox, moose, and sheep.

How cute are they?

Their strikingly golden brown-yellow fur color makes this particular subspecies of takin stand out. The hoofed mammal watchers from around the world trek the rugged mountainous terrains to have a glimpse of these charismatic creatures of snow.

How do they communicate?

Golden takins make different noises to communicate with each other. They also communicate with their body postures. They caution their herd with a loud cough, signaling danger and taking cover. They have different sounds for different situations, like asserting dominance or indicating a need. They are loud enough and can be heard to quite far a distance. The mother, Golden takin, has a different sound to call out for the baby takin. Along with body postures, takins communicate with their urine smell, which gives out different scents.

How big is golden takin?

Golden takins are big and stocky animals. They grow to a height between 3.3 - 4.5 ft (100.5-137.1 cm) in length, and head-to-tail varies between 5 - 7.3 ft ( 152.4- 222.5 cm) in length. These giant mammals are similar in features to the muskox but are not as big as a yak. The animal has thick, oily hairy fur, making it appear even more stocky.

How fast can golden takin run?

Golden takins run when threatened and run for cover. Otherwise, these are slow-moving animals who walk in the mountainous terrain with ease. They leap from rock to rock with ease. The takins move along the same path in the mountains, creating worn-out paths that lead to the natural salt links and grazing areas.

How much does golden takin weigh?

Golden takins weigh between 500-700 lb (226 - 317.5 kg). The males are larger than the females. Though at the time of birth, a kid weighs 15 lb (6.8 kg), adult males grow above 770 lb (349.2 kg) and sometimes to almost 1000 lb (453.5 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male golden takin is called a bull, and the female is called a cow. The male is larger than the female.

What would you call a baby golden takin?

A baby of Golden takin is called a kid. They are born dark, and as they grow, their fur turns lighter.

What do they eat?

Golden takins are herbivorous, and as a matter of fact, they eat any leaves that they can find. They mostly eat in the early morning. Their food includes almost everything from bamboo to unpalatable leaves such as rhododendron. It is said that they eat leaves of up to 130 species of plants as a part of their food. Salt licks are an essential part of their diet to meet mineral needs and sometimes neutralize toxins from their food. Like cows and sheep, takins are also ruminants which means they have compartments in their stomach and cud their food into mouths to chew later for better digestion.

Are they poisonous?

Golden takins are aggressive and dangerous when provoked but are not poisonous.

Would they make a good pet?

Golden takins have not been domesticated and kept as pets by humans. These animals live under challenging terrains in the snowy mountains. Also, they have a peculiar lifestyle habit of scenting their fur with their urine which makes it all very sickening for humans to domesticate and keep them around. Though now they are being bred in captivity and protected under wildlife acts.

Did you know...

Golden takins are considered one of China's national treasures.

The national animal of Bhutan is the Bhutan takin.

Takin horns have appeared in the illegal trade in Myanmar.

There is folklore famous in Bhutan about this most revered animal takin. According to legend, the folk hero Drukpa Kunley, a tantric master in the 16th century, performed a miracle to please his followers. He reassembled the bones of cows and goats to bring this new animal to life and named the animal takin.

Different types of takin

Takins belong to the Mammalia class and Bovidae family. In addition, takins are categorized into four subspecies of the Caprinae subfamily. These include are Mishmi Takin (Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor), golden takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi), Tibetan or Sichuan Takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana), and Bhutan Takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei). All of them are so similar that you cannot distinguish them from each other unless closely observed, except for their fur and the habitat where they are found.

Mishmi takin is found in the hills of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

The golden takin is found in the Qin Mountains in China.

The Sichuan takin is found in eastern Tibet and in the Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan provinces of China.

The Bhutan takin is found in the bamboo forests of Bhutan.

Are takins endangered?

Takins are a Vulnerable species, and their population is declining. Here is the list of their conservation status:

Mishmi takin: Endangered

Golden takin: Vulnerable

Sichuan takin: Vulnerable

Bhutan Takin: Vulnerable

The species are protected under the wildlife conservation laws in their respective countries. For example, China has takins as their national treasure. However, in Myanmar, these animals' horns were found in illegal trading. To protect these species, they are being bred and raised in wildlife sanctuaries and zoos.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including takin facts and Sri Lankan Elephant facts.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our free printable golden takin coloring pages.