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For Immediate Releas: April 4, 2007
Contact: Kelly Lessard 952.431.9217
Apple Valley, MINN – A rare Sichuan takin calf, born on March 14, is now on exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo.
The calf is on exhibit with her mother, father, and two other takin. The unnamed calf weighed 21.5 pounds at birth, and has now reached 48 pounds. She will reach maturity—between 500-700 pounds—in four years.
 Considered national treasures by the Chinese, takin are rare in North American zoos: only 50 takin are found in 12 zoos in North America. Tim Hill, a zookeeper on the Minnesota Zoo’s Northern Trail, manages the North American Regional Studbook for the takin. Studbooks help zoos manage a small captive population of animals. Listed as “protected” by The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), takin are mysterious animals. Found in forest mountainsides in China, the Sichuan takin prefers mid-altitude mountains, dense undergrowth, and rocky hillsides. They also share the same ranges as pandas and golden monkeys. “Little is known about their numbers in the wild due to their inaccessible habitat,” says Hill. “Illegal hunting and habitat destruction, due to an increase in human population, threaten these animals,” he says.
The Chinese refer to the takin as “Ling Niu” or “antelope cow.” This unusual-looking relative of the musk ox looks like a small moose, climbs like a mountain goat, has short curved horns like a gnu, and snorts. Takin, who stand 3–4 feet high, eat shrubs, grasses, and leaves. They are even able to stand on their hind legs and reach branches 10 feet off the ground.
There are three subspecies of takin: Mishmi, Golden, and Sichuan. The Mishmi takin, found in India, Bhutan, and Burma, can be recognized by its chocolate-brown coat. The Golden takin – named for its golden color – is found in China, as is the Sichuan takin, whose appearance can be considered a “mix” the other two subspecies: a golden face with a dark-colored body.
The Minnesota Zoo participates in a breeding loan agreement with other zoos, a valuable tool allowing zoos to breed unrelated animals. All takin are managed cooperatively between the zoos.
The Minnesota Zoo is located on 500 verdant acres in Apple Valley, only minutes south of the Mall of America. For more information on the Zoo, call 952.431.9200 or visit www.mnzoo.org. The Minnesota Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information visit www.aza.org.
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