Celebrating the Year of the Ox with Takins

Jakarta. The Chinese Lunar New Year is approaching.

Feb. 12 marks the beginning of the Year of the Metal Ox. Taking part in the festivities, Taman Safari Indonesia introduced takins (Budorcas taxicolor) at their Istana Panda Indonesia facility last Friday. The mammal, which roams Asia's mountains and bamboo thickets, belongs to the Bovidae family and bears a striking resemblance to the hardworking oxen.

Takins are native to Asia's highlands, namely Tibet, Bhutan, and the Himalayas.

The herbivores make their homes in forested valleys and rocky, grass-covered alpine zones at an altitude between 1,000 and 4,500 meters above sea level. Their thick fur keep them warm in the cold.

The takins at Taman Safari Indonesia live in an environment which mimics their natural habitat. They are at 1,417 meters above sea level with cold, foggy weathers.

Taman Safari Indonesia is the only conservation  site in Southeast Asia to have the national animal of Bhutan.

Takin is not the only species in Istana Panda Indonesia. As the name suggests, visitor can also meet two adorable giant pandas, Cai Tao and Hu Chun.