Confession of the first-class protected animal "Six-Unlike" Takin: We are cute and gentle, but...

Expert: Guo Geng, Researcher, Beijing Biodiversity Conservation Research Center

Everyone knows that the "Si Bu Xiang" is actually an elk, a rare animal native to my country. But have you heard of the "Liu Bu Xiang"?

Recently, "Six Unlikes" appeared in Gansu, attracting the attention of netizens.

Many netizens commented that they had never heard of “six unlikes” before, while some people naturally associated it with “four unlikes”.

Some netizens also said that the "six-in-one" creature is very cute!

So what exactly is the "six-unlike" takin, a national first-class protected animal? Let's take a look at its self-introduction.

What kind of animal is takin?

Our takin is classified as an even-toed ungulate animal between cattle and sheep. Its aliases include takin, white sheep, and six-unlike.

**People say we look like cows, sheep, antelopes, have horns like wildebeests, faces like camels, and backs like brown bears. **But we are completely different species from the "four-in-one" elk. Latin name: Budorcas taxicolor Hodgson.

Image source: Photo by Guo Geng

We are a national first-class protected animal and are listed as rare by the World Conservation Union.

When they grow up, their weight can reach about 250-400 kilograms and their body length can reach about 2 meters. They usually only eat plants. They look like cows, with a large body, thick limbs, and a sturdy body that is between goats and antelopes.

Our snout is large and exposed, with long hair on the throat. Both males and females have short horns with a special shape. After rising for a while, they bend outward and backward, so we are also called "takins".

Where do takin mainly occur?

Our takin is a special animal of the Himalayas, Hengduan Mountains, Min Mountains and Qinling Mountains, and is widely distributed in China. Together with the giant panda and golden monkey, it is known as the three most precious animals of China's alpine forests.

There are four subspecies in total: Qinling subspecies (golden hair), Sichuan subspecies (yellow and black), nominate subspecies (Gaoligong subspecies) and Bhutan subspecies (small and dark in color). All of them are found in my country, especially the Qinling subspecies and Sichuan subspecies, which are endemic to my country.

Image source: Photo by Guo Geng

**The Qinling subspecies is the most beautiful of the four subspecies,** with golden fur and a well-proportioned body. It is mainly distributed in the western section of the Qinling Mountains, and is generally found in Taibai, Foping, Yangxian, Ningshan, Fengxian, Zhouzhi, Zhashui, Liuba, Mianxian, Chenggu, Zhen'an, Ankang, Meixian, Lantian, Chang'an, etc. It is also distributed in Gansu, Sichuan, Tibet and other provinces (regions) in China, and in Bhutan, Myanmar and other countries abroad.

Judging from the geographical location and appearance characteristics, the individuals discovered in Gannan this time should have spread from the Sichuan subspecies.

The reserve where the takin was found is here

What are the living habits of takin?

We are typical alpine animals, generally living in alpine coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, dark coniferous forests and alpine meadows at an altitude of 1500-3500 meters.

They all like to live in groups, and each group is led by an adult male bull. They often move together in groups of more than 10, and as many as 20-30. They also temporarily gather into large groups of more than 70-100. They have obvious seasonal vertical migration habits.

Image source: Photo by Guo Geng

When the herd is moving, there is usually a strong bull standing on a high place to keep watch.

If a natural enemy, a jackal, comes to "steal chickens", the head cow will lead the herd to charge forward, unstoppable, until they are out of danger. In recent years, jackals have been almost wiped out, causing some mountain areas to be "overcrowded with cattle".

We find a bamboo forest or bush to rest in during the day and come out to look for food at dusk and night. We like to eat twigs, young shoots, bark, bamboo leaves, grass, seeds, etc.

In spring, they feed on grasses of the Gramineae and Liliaceae families, bamboo shoots and leaves, and some young branches and leaves of shrubs. In summer, they migrate to higher places to collect herbs rich in vitamins and starch. In autumn, they feed on fruits of plants. In winter, they move to high mountain terraces or sunny mountains, and mainly feed on the bark of arrow bamboo, fir and other trees, and young branches of shrubs.

**We are not picky eaters and can eat hundreds of plants. We also like to eat rock salt, nitrate, or drink salt water, which is more flavorful. **Therefore, places with more salt in the forest are often gathering points for our compatriots.

Will takin attack people?

We usually reach sexual maturity at around 3 years old, and start mating and reproducing in July and August every year. The pregnancy lasts for 8-9 months, and only one baby can be born each time. Usually, everyone has a good temper and generally will not take the initiative to attack humans.

But every summer, male compatriots who want to get the beautiful cows they like often have to fight with their competitors, and only by winning can they get their love.

**The "losers in life" who have lost will often leave the group, and because they are very depressed, they have bad tempers and are likely to attack people if they see them. **So if you see a lone antelope, be sure to walk around it.

What if you are really forced into a dead end by a "failure in life" and have no way to escape?

Don't panic, you can climb to a higher place, or lie down on the ground and stay still to protect your vital parts.

As for why the takin is endangered?

To sum it up in five words - human expansion!

Therefore, we must protect the environment and not destroy the habitats of animals. Treating animals well is also treating humans well!