Golden Takin Born at the San Diego Zoo is off to a Strong Start
Wildlife care specialists at the San Diego Zoo welcomed the birth of a female golden takin last month, the first of this takin subspecies to be born in the Western Hemisphere. The female calf is named Mei Ling, meaning “beautiful antelope” in the Mandarin language. Golden takins are a horned mammal related to sheep and have adapted for life in the high elevation of their native Himalayan Mountain habitat.
The San Diego Zoo is the only place that takins (rhymes with “rockin’”) can be seen in the Western Hemisphere. These ruminants are very agile, navigating rugged landscapes with ease. They get their name from the golden hue of the thick, shaggy coat sported by adult takins.
Female takins generally give birth to a single kid in early spring. Within days, the young are capably moving on their own, a trait that helps them avoid predation. Young takins have a much darker coat than adults. Their deep brown color serves to keep them camouflaged from predators. Visitors to the Zoo’s Asian Passage, however, should have no trouble viewing the youngster as she bonds with her mother and becomes familiar with her habitat.
Category: Animals, Local News, Nonprofit
