The ungainly giant of Himalayan forest — the takin looks improbable, like a goat that has been assembled from spare parts; it has the massive body of a musk ox, the Roman nose of a wildebeest, a short tail, and a yellow-gold coat; it is the national animal of Bhutan, where it is closely associated with the Divine Madman's legend; one of the larger bovids of Asia and a herd animal of dense rhododendron and bamboo forest.
Composite appearance
The takin defies easy description. Its massive body, Roman nose, short legs, and shaggy coat give it the appearance of having been designed by committee. It is classified in the tribe Caprini (alongside goats and sheep) but has some affinities with musk oxen. The golden takin subspecies of the Qinling Mountains is particularly striking — a deep amber-gold that shines in forest light. Other subspecies range from dark brown to almost grey.
The Divine Madman’s legend
In Bhutan, the takin is surrounded by legend. The Bhutanese saint Drukpa Kunley, known as the Divine Madman, is said to have created the takin by combining the bones of a cow and a goat, then breathing life into the assembled skeleton. The Bhutan takin sanctuary in Thimphu houses a small captive population and is one of the country’s more unusual tourist attractions. The takin became Bhutan’s national animal partly because of its unique and unmistakable appearance.
Mountain ecology
Takins are impressive climbers despite their bulk, scaling steep mountain slopes and cliff faces with surprising agility. They follow seasonal migration routes between low-elevation winter forest and high alpine meadows above 4,000 metres in summer. Their specialised digestive system handles a wide range of plant material including bamboo shoots, which are unavailable to most large bovids. They are gregarious in summer (forming herds of up to 300 animals) and more solitary or in small groups in winter.
Conservation threats
Takins are Vulnerable due to hunting for meat and traditional medicine, habitat loss from logging, and competition with domestic livestock. They are legally protected across their range but enforcement is difficult in remote mountain areas. Populations have fragmented and declined throughout their historical range.
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Takin starts with T and ends with N. Browse other animals along the same letter.
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