Taiwan Serow

They are highly vigilant and not easy to observe. However, their feces are commonly found in Yushan National Park. At dawn and dusk, they graze and browse in the woods alone or in small numbers. They generally eat the leaves below the shoulder height, or vines, ferns, shrubs, or herbs on the ground. In addition, they need to absorb salt and they can be observed licking minerals deposited on cliffs or rocks. Taiwan serows can jump as high as 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and run as fast as 55 km/h (34 mph) and large males can weigh up to 100 kg (220 lb). Among all mammals in Taiwan, they are the best high jumpers. They can be found at an elevation as low as 50 m (160 ft), but are mostly seen around 1,000 m (3,300 ft), and as high as 3,500 m (11,500 ft). Their habitats include the conifer forest, mixed broad-leaved forests, and the steep slopes of bare rocks and gravel cliffs. They are sometimes spotted on top of Nanhu Mountain, Xueshan, Yushan, and Xiuguluan Mountain. They also live in the Taroko National Park. Their hoofs separate to two sides and can easily hold on to rocks on steep slopes. They are also good tree climbers. They are solitary and territorial. They use tears to smear branches or stones as markers.