Zookeepers at Pairi Daiza in Wallonia met a newly born golden takin in the early morning of 8 March, as it was being looked after by its mother in the barn. The baby is one of the first animals to be born this year in the Enchanted Kingdom of Animals section of the zoo.
"This birth represents very good news for the conservation of the species because these iconic ungulates are endangered in the wild," said Pairi Daiza in a press release on Wednesday.
The little creature was born to Pchan-Ku (10) and Wei (8). The baby will eventually grow long yellow locks like its parents and weigh up to 350kg. Currently, the calf, whose sex had not been determined, spends its time frolicking behind its six other band members as it learns how to walk.
Credit: Pairi Daiza / Instagram
A golden takin is a ruminant of the subfamily of goats that live in the high mountains in southern China and Bhutan. Their coats range from beige-brown to almost black, but Pchan-Ku and Wei have golden-yellow fur because they are native to the Chinese regions of Sichuan and Shaanxi.
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In the wild, the animals live at altitudes 18,000 to 41,000 kilometres. They move in herds that vary in size depending on the season. The creatures are as agile as a goat and as strong as a bull.
Credit: Pairi Daiza / Instagram
The baby will grow to resist the cold thanks to its impermeable fur that is coated in oil created from its skin. Its fur can thicken up to 25cm on its neck.
The golden takin is classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss and hunting. The species' biggest predator is man, as they are hunted for their meat and fur. The population has dropped by 30% in the last 24 years according to Pairi Daiza.
Credit: Pairi Daiza / Instagram
The facility houses more than 7,000 animals including mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. Their mission is to familiarise people with nature's beauty and remind them that nature is fragile.
The animal sanctuary participates in a European program for the protection and reproduction of the species. The little one is now visible and can be observed in the Enchanted Kingdom of Animals, open every day, at Pairi Daiza.
