Mei-ling, a Mishmi Takin, was born on 30th September to mum Mulan 
and dad Mooshu.
It is difficult to estimate how many are left in the wild which is why it's so important that a safety net of Takins is built up in collections such as Marwell. Found in the Himalayas they are hunted for meat but the main cause of their declining numbers is the loss of habitat due to farming, mining and logging operations.
Takins look like they have borrowed various body parts from other animals. They have horns like a wildebeest, a nose like a moose, a tail like a bear and a body like a bison.
Takins employ lots of tactics to stay warm. They have a thick secondary coat to help protect against the harsh Himalayan climate. Although they have no skin glands, their skin secretes an oily, bitter-tasting substance that acts as a natural raincoat. They also have a large moose-like snout which has big sinus cavities that warm up the air before the Takin inhales it into their lungs. Without this they would lose a large amount of body heat just by breathing.
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Above images: Provided by Solent News Agency
Top right image: Provided by Bill Hall