Footage of rare takins nursing captured in N.W. China

Infrared cameras at a nature reserve in northwest China's Gansu Province recorded wild takins nursing their young.

The pictures feature two or three mature takins tending as many as 15 calves in a mountain forest in Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve.

The mature takins watch over their young while they nap, according to the photos shot from 12:56 p.m to 2:08 p.m. in April this year.

After waking up and foraging for food, the takins lay bask in the sunshine, showed the photos.

The cameras were installed in early April, and when they were checked recently, the pictures were discovered, said Wu Juncheng, head of the reserve's Rangshui River Protection Station.

"These cameras allow reserve staff to see animals in their natural environment," he said.

Wild takins are a protected species. They are social animals that usually live in groups of 20 to 30 and nurse their young collectively.

Takins reproduce in February or March and the calves are fostered by one or more female nursing takins, according to Li Ruichun, an engineer with the reserve.

Covering about 200,000 hectares, Baishuijiang is one of China's largest reserves for wild pandas. It is home to 51 rare animal species, including ten on the top protection list, such as the giant panda, golden monkey, takin and leopard.

Infrared camera footage has also confirmed that takins and wild giant pandas often cross paths. Endi