Lincoln Park Zoo adopts two young Sichuan takin brothers
Two young members of the goat-antelope family are making their new home at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The Sichuan takins — brothers Porter, 3, and Taiyang, 2 — are a species native to China. But the pair were born about 100 miles away from Chicago at the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, Indiana.
In their new home, the takins will show off their curved horns that look like a handlebar mustache, and loose flap of skin under their chins, known as a dewlap.
“Takins are such a fun and unique animal to see, and we’re excited to welcome these two brothers to their new home here at Lincoln Park Zoo,” curator Dan Boehm said in the news release announcing the brothers' arrival. “We’re quickly getting to know their personalities and have been impressed already with how quickly they’ve settled into their habitat.”
Sichuan takins have thick, coarse coats. Adapted to both low and high elevations, Suchian takins have split hooves for climbing, large sinus cavities to warm the air as they breathe and an oily substance that waterproofs their coat.
Sichuan takins are considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to overhunting and habitat loss. But Porter and Taiyang will be well protected in their new habitat, which will soon include a multi-level climbing structure meant to mimic the steep mountains Sichuan takins enjoy in the Himalayas.
These social animals tend to gather in large herds during the spring and summer, before shifting to smaller groups or a solitary life during the winter, so visitors can hope to see the brothers out and about for the months to come.
Visitors can say "hello" to Porter and Taiyang in the South Loop of the zoo's campus.