Takin

Budorcas taxicolor

Easy

The **Takin** (*Budorcas taxicolor*) is a large Asian ungulate featured in the Eurasia Animal Pack DLC for Planet Zoo.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population In Wild:** Unknown

The takin (or Budorcas taxicolor) is a large goat-antelope living in the montane regions of Tibet, Bhutan, Northern India, Myanmar, and China. Takins have a stocky, cow-like build and are covered in shaggy fur. There are four subspecies of the takin, which vary in coat colouration and size. Legs are often darkened, to nearly black, while the overall colouration ranges from marbled black-brown to grey-yellow to golden. Males are larger than females, but both sexes have horns that measure up to 64cm in length. Male takins are 1.6m to 2.2m long and 97cm to 140cm tall at the shoulder, with a weight between 300kg and 350kg. Females are 1.6m to 1.95m long, 95cm to 125cm tall at the shoulder, and weigh 240kg to 280kg.

The takin is considered a Vulnerable species, with two of its subspecies, the Bhutan and Mishmi takins, even listed as Endangered. It is under threat due to overhunting, habitat loss through deforestation, road building and agricultural development, disturbances through tourism venture, and diseases spread by domestic livestock. The takin is a protected species in Bhutan, India and China, the latter containing 14 nature reserves protecting the species and its habitat.

### Social needs

During most of the year, takin live in mixed family groups with males moving between them, though males may also live more solitarily. During summer, many of these groups will join up to form herds of up to 300 individuals.

### Reproduction

In the breeding season, taking place in late summer, male takins attempt to gather groups of females and defend them against rival males. They engage in mating display behaviour such as vocalising, head tossing, and scent marking. Rivals are met with aggression, sometimes resulting in fights including head butting and horn clashing. To check if females in his harem are fertile, the male will sample their urine, and mate multiple times with those who are receptive.

Takins are pregnant for 200 to 220 days. When she is ready to give birth, a female will move to an area of denser vegetation to have her calf. For the first week of its life, the calf exclusively nurses from its mother, then begins eating young shoots and grasses. By 2 months old, it is fully weaned.

Calves reach sexual maturity at 2.5 years old. Females stay with their natal group, whereas males leave to join a bachelor herd made up of other young males. Females are likely to successfully reproduce at 4.5 years old, and males at 5.5 years old.

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Grazing Ball Feeder · Small Barrel Feeder · Hanging Grazer Feeder · Scarecrow Feeder · Melon Feeder
Grab Ball · Herb Scent Marker · Rubbing Pillar · Scots Pine/Tamarind Scratching Tree

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Fun Facts

* Takin can live at altitudes of up to 15000ft.
* The takin is the national animal of Bhutan.
* The takin is a slow runner but an excellent climber, an adaptation to its montane environment.
* Takins have multiple vocalizations that they use for different purposes, such as a ‘cough’ to warn the herd of danger, a ‘trill’ to communicate with calves, and a ‘roar’ when fearful.
* There are four subspecies of takin: the Sichuan takin, Bhutan takin, golden takin, and the Mishmi takin.

### Other Trivia

* Even though the name of the animal is Takin, the developers went with modeling it heavily based off the Sichuan Takin.