In conservation, large mammals often receive a disproportionate amount of attention. Elephants and giant pandas and grizzly bears feature prominently in calendars and nature documentaries. A rare squirrel? Not so much.
But even when it comes to mammals, many large (and cool) species are relatively unknown and receive very little attention. Here are 9 cool hoofed mammals that remain obscure to those who don’t live near them. How many do you know? Have you seen any of them, either in zoos or in the wild?
Serow (Capricornis sp.)
Even in its native range, the serow is often mistaken for a goat, a pig or a deer, and it looks just enough like any of those to make this understandable.
There are seven species of serow. They live in the Himalayas and on the forested slopes of Thailand and Sumatra. One secretive species even lives in the forests of Taiwan. But the most studied – and arguably, the cutest – lives in Japan.
The Japanese serow is territorial, with both males and females marking their areas with glands and scat, and defending those territories against encroachment. They are solitary creatures, getting together only to procreate. Young are run off by their mothers when they are old enough to defend themselves.
The Japanese serow nearly went extinct due to hunting, but in 1955, the country declared serows as a “Special National Monument,” granting it full protection. Conservation measures worked exceptionally well. This serow species thrives in dense forest, and the growth of Japan’s pine plantations actually provided great habitat.
The serow population grew to the point where there were conflicts with farmers and foresters; today their populations are controlled by culling and hunting. More than 100,000 animals now roam Japan. Read more about serow and other “goat antelopes.”
Do You Know These Weird Hoofed Mammals?
But even when it comes to mammals, many large (and cool) species are relatively unknown and receive very little attention. Here are 9 cool hoofed mammals that remain obscure to those who don’t live near them. How many do you know? Have you seen any of them, either in zoos or in the wild?
Serow (Capricornis sp.)
Even in its native range, the serow is often mistaken for a goat, a pig or a deer, and it looks just enough like any of those to make this understandable.
There are seven species of serow. They live in the Himalayas and on the forested slopes of Thailand and Sumatra. One secretive species even lives in the forests of Taiwan. But the most studied – and arguably, the cutest – lives in Japan.
The Japanese serow is territorial, with both males and females marking their areas with glands and scat, and defending those territories against encroachment. They are solitary creatures, getting together only to procreate. Young are run off by their mothers when they are old enough to defend themselves.
The Japanese serow nearly went extinct due to hunting, but in 1955, the country declared serows as a “Special National Monument,” granting it full protection. Conservation measures worked exceptionally well. This serow species thrives in dense forest, and the growth of Japan’s pine plantations actually provided great habitat.
The serow population grew to the point where there were conflicts with farmers and foresters; today their populations are controlled by culling and hunting. More than 100,000 animals now roam Japan. Read more about serow and other “goat antelopes.”
Do You Know These Weird Hoofed Mammals?
