Sichuan Takin Budorcas taxicolor tibetana

Takins are Goat-antelopes from wooded mountain hillsides in the eastern Himalayas. They are also called Cattle-chamois and Gnu-goats. There are four subspecies.

The Sichuan Takin, also called the Tibetan, is native to Tibet and the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Xinjiang. It inhabits bamboo forests in Sichuan with the Giant Panda.

Takins can reach up to 140cm (55") height at the shoulder. Despite looking like cattle, they are more closely related to sheep. They have long, woolly coats to keep warm in their mountain habitat.

They live in small, family-related herds; bachelor males may be solitary. The young can look more like bears than calves/kids.

All subspecies of Takin (Sichuan, Golden, Mishmi and Bhutan) have suffered population declines from hunting and habitat loss; Chinese subspecies are particularly endangered from over-hunting.