Sponsored by

The golden takin is a goat-antelope found in the Qinling Mountains of China. It stands about 1 to 1.4 meters tall at the shoulder (roughly 3 to 4.5 feet) and weighs between 300 and 350 kilograms (about 650 to 770 pounds). Although sometimes called an antelope, it is more closely related to goats and sheep.

A Coat of Gold, Built for the Cold

Golden takins are known for their thick coats, with adult males developing longer manes around the neck. These outer layers repel rain and snow, while dense underwool beneath traps body heat. Broad snouts and deep nasal passages warm the air as they breathe. Together, these features help them stay comfortable while climbing steep, wet slopes in freezing conditions.

Life in the High Peaks

They live in the Qinling Mountains of southern Shaanxi Province, in central China. Their home includes conifer forests, bamboo thickets, rhododendron groves, and subalpine meadows high on the slopes. In spring and summer, the herds climb higher. Some groups reach elevations up to 4,300 meters (about 14,000 feet) near the tree line in search of fresh greenery. When winter’s cold arrives, they descend to lower valleys and forests around 1,200 to 3,500 meters (4,000 to 11,500 feet).

Along the way, takins carve wide animal highways through thickets of bamboo and rhododendrons, always heading to familiar salt licks and feeding areas. The patterns of snowfall, sunlight, and plant growth largely dictate where and when the takins move.

A Social Climber

Each spring, dozens or even hundreds of golden takins gather into large herds as they move uphill, later breaking into smaller bands during the colder months. At their peak, herds can include 200 to 300 individuals, though most shrink to just a few dozen by autumn. These groups typically consist of adult females, juveniles, and young males. Older bulls spend much of the year alone, staying on the edges of herd movements until the mating season begins.

In late summer, males enter the rut. They bellow loudly to attract females and to warn rival males to keep their distance. If a female is ready to breed, the male stays close and eventually mates with her. After a gestation period of about 220 days, a female usually gives birth to a single calf in early spring. Newborn calves are covered in dark, dappled coats with a faint stripe along the spine, providing camouflage that fades as they grow. Mothers stay close as calves nurse for the first two months and often remain with the herd for up to a year.

Feeding Through the Forest

Golden takins feed on a wide variety of plants. Studies have recorded more than 160 species in their diet, including twigs, shoots, leaves, and bark from both deciduous and evergreen trees. They also eat bamboo, rhododendrons, shrubs, and grasses. These animals are surprisingly good at processing toxic plant compounds. Visiting natural salt licks provides essential minerals and may also help neutralize plant toxins.

Herd members stay in contact through both sound and scent. Although takins lack many skin glands, they use urine in unique ways. Males often spray it on their faces and forelegs, while females soak their tails when they urinate. Combined with their natural skin oils, this gives golden takins a sharp, bitter scent that some people describe as similar to burnt rubber. These chemical cues help individuals identify one another and communicate breeding status, even when visibility is limited in the dense forest.

Get more from RAWR SZN