Chinese Serow

Description:

Adults can weigh over 150 kg (330lbs) and grow to be six feet long and three feet high at the shoulder.

Habitat:

China and SE Asia, steep, rugged hills up to 4500m (15,000')

Notes:

My last day at Foping National Nature Reserve was also one of the best. It was an 8km (5Mi) hike along a concrete path to where the road ended. Our ride was waiting for us there. My guide suggested I go first, because I might see some wildlife on the way. He would leave a half hour later because he would be with a dog and a pony carrying our things. Not good company for spotting wildlife! So I left on my own and walked quietly. After only about 20 minutes (it takes about 2 hours to hike the path), I noticed movement on the opposite side of a wide stream. I stopped and had my camera ready. It was the this Chinese Serow. The whole 10 days I spent in Foping I was seeing Chinese Serow droppings and was really hoping to see one and now I was. Not only that, the animal didn't know I was there and kept going about its business, gnawing some bark on a fallen tree, as seen in the third photo. Finally after a few too many shutter clicks, it looked over at me and noticed I was there. It ran to the opposite bank of the stream near some bamboo. Then shortly after that it ran off back into the forest. The last photo is totally wide open at 18mm, to show how close I was. It was an awesome way to end a spectacular time in Foping, where I also spotted Wild Giant Pandas, Golden Takin and the Giant Red and White Flying Squirrel.