Taiwan Serow (Capricornis swinhoei) lives in mountainous forest across Taiwan islands. It feeds on grass and leaves. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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These roam from sea-level forests at 50 m (160 ft) up to alpine zones at 3,500 m (11,500 ft), but they are most common around 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Their homes span conifer forests, mixed broad-leaf woods, and the bare rock and gravel slopes of steep mountains like Nanhu, Xueshan, Yushan and Xiuguluan.
Mating runs from September to November, followed by a seven-month pregnancy that delivers newborns between March and June of the next year. Usually a single calf is born, though twins appear occasionally, and the infant can stand on its own within a few hours. By three months the youngster can feed independently, reaches sexual maturity at two to three years, and may live up to about 15 years.
Serows are hyper-vigilant and shy, making them hard to spot, but their droppings litter Yushan National Park. At dawn and dusk they browse alone or in tiny groups, eating low-lying leaves, vines, ferns, shrubs and herbs, and they often lick mineral deposits on cliffs to satisfy a salt craving. They are solitary and territorial, marking trees and stones with tears to signal ownership.
Taiwan serows can leap a full 2 m (6 ft 7 in) straight up and sprint at 55 km/h (34 mph), out-jumping every other Taiwanese mammal. Even the biggest males can tip the scales at 100 kg (220 lb).
Since 1989 the serow has been listed as a rare and valuable species and is protected under Taiwan's Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. The biggest dangers are habitat destruction and harvesting.
Sources
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In the mist-shrouded mountains of Taiwan, the serow roams with a quiet majesty, its surefooted hooves barely disturbing the leaf-littered trails as it navigates the rugged terrain with ease. With a coat of dusky brown and a wispy beard, this enigmatic creature blends seamlessly into the landscape, its large, dark eyes ever-vigilant for the slightest sign of danger. As it moves through the forest, the Taiwan serow embodies a sense of primordial wildness, its very presence a testament to the enduring power of nature in this remote and captivating land.
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