Takin - Takin (English spelling)

An animal of the order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae. Also known as the buddle ox, it is closely related to the musk ox. It lives in small herds, descending to lower mountain areas where it is easier to survive in winter, and seeking fresh grass in higher mountains in summer. Its body shape is very similar to that of a cow. It has a large head with a wide muzzle. Both males and females have horns that grow on both sides and then curve upwards in an arch shape. It has a sturdy body, with thick and short front and back legs. Three subspecies are known. The basic subspecies, the Assam takin, B. t. taxicolor, stands 100-120 cm tall at the shoulder and is found in Nepal, Assam, India, and Bhutan, living in remote mountainous areas at altitudes of 2,500-4,000 meters, feeding on rhododendrons and bamboo grass. Its body color is golden or reddish brown, with black mixed in places in its fur. Suchuan takin B. t. tibetana is distributed in Sichuan Province, China. Its body color is a dull yellow, reddish gray, or silvery gray, with inconspicuous black spots. Shanxi takin B. t. bedfordi is distributed in the sacred mountain of Mount Taibai in the southern part of Shanxi Province, China.

All three subspecies breed from July to August, giving birth to one baby in March or April. The baby follows its mother after three days. Their population is extremely small. The two subspecies, the Suchowan Takin and the Shanxi Takin, were once highly valued for their meat, leading to overhunting and a sharp decline in their population. The current population of both subspecies is unknown, but it is estimated that there are around 200 to 300 of them. For this reason, they are strictly protected in China and designated as a Class 1 protected species.

[Masanobu Kitahara]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哺乳(ほにゅう)綱偶蹄(ぐうてい)目ウシ科の動物。別名ブドルカとよばれ、ジャコウウシに近縁。小さな群れをなし、冬はしのぎやすい低山帯へ降り、夏は高山に新鮮な草を求める。体形はウシによく似る。大きな頭で鼻口部の幅は広い。角(つの)は雄雌ともに生え、両わきに伸びたあと弓形に反り上がる。体は頑丈で、前後肢は太くて短い。3亜種が知られる。基亜種アッサムターキンB. t. taxicolorは肩高100～120センチメートルで、ネパール、インドのアッサム、ブータンに分布し、秘境の山岳地帯の標高2500～4000メートルにすみ、シャクナゲやササを食べて暮らす。体色は黄金色や赤褐色で、体毛のところどころに黒色が混じる。スーチョワンターキンB. t. tibetanaは中国四川(しせん)（スーチョワン）省に分布。体色はぼやけた黄色や赤灰色、銀灰色で黒斑(こくはん)は目だたない。シャンシーターキンB. t. bedfordiは中国山西（シャンシー）省南部の聖山、太白山に分布する。

　3亜種ともに繁殖期は7～8月で、3～4月ごろ1子を産む。子は3日で母親の後をついて歩く。生息数はきわめて少ない。スーチョワンターキンとシャンシーターキンの2亜種は、かつて肉が珍重されたため乱獲され、個体数が激減した。現在は両者とも生息数は知られていないが、推定で200～300頭ぐらいといわれている。そのため、中国では厳格に守られて、保護第一級動物に指定されている。

［北原正宣］

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