April, 2008 -- From News

CALVERT, Md. - A rare Sichuan takin was born on exhibit Wednesday morning at the zoo. Zookeepers knew the animal was pregnant, but didn't know when the calf was going to be born.

Officials will remove the newborn and its mother from the exhibit for a few days for a neonatal exam. Zookeepers also want to determine the gender of the newborn and make sure it's healthy and nursing.

Takin are rare in North American zoos. Only 50 takin are found in 12 zoos in North America.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the animal as "protected," but officials are not sure how many takin are in the wild because of their inaccessible habitat.

"Illegal hunting and habitat destruction, due to an increase in human population threaten these animals," says Tim Hill, a zookeeper at the Minnesota Zoo.

The unusual-looking relative of the musk ox looks like a small moose, climbs like a mountain goat, has short curved horns like a gnu, and snorts. Takin stand 3 to 4 feet tall. The animals eat grasses, shrubs, and leaves. They are able to stand on their hind legs and reach branches 10 feet off the ground.