The Potawatomi Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of a second Sichuan takin kid on April 12, 2019. The kid has already been checked by the Zoo veterinarian and was determined to be a healthy female. She was born to mother Yi-Liu and father Krunk around 10:30 am while the Zoo was open.
“It is exciting to have a second takin born this year,” says Josh Sisk, director of animal programs and education. “We’re thrilled to play a part in takin preservation. It will be so much fun to have these two female takin grow up together, and we hope the public enjoys coming to see them and learning more about this rare species.”
The Zoo is currently holding a naming contest for the first takin kid. The American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) Potawatomi Zoo Chapter set up four boxes with names written on them by the takin habitat. The public can put money in the box representing their favorite name. The name that raises the most money will be the takin’s name. All proceeds will be donated to Sichuan takin conservation. The options are: Patty, after a Zoo volunteer; Meili-Wei, meaning “beautiful danger”; Pengsong, meaning “fluffy”; and Emei, the name of a mountain in the Sichuan province that takin are found on. AAZK plans to have a similar naming contest for the second takin kid.
Sichuan takin are a vulnerable species native to Tibet and the provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, and Xinjiang in the People’s Republic of China. Their habitat is mid- to high-altitude mountains, with dense undergrowth and rocky hillsides. They eat shrubs, grasses, and leaves. Takin range in size from 3-4 feet tall at the shoulder and 550-770 pounds. Male Sichuan takin have a distinctive golden coat, while female takin are brown.
This birth was part of a recommended breeding by the Sichuan takin Species Survival Plan program. Fewer than 20 zoos have Sichuan takin in the United States, and they are all part of the Species Survival Plan.
