Himalayan Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) lives in mountain forests across Himalayan region. It feeds on grass and leaves. Its conservation status is Vulnerable.
Fascinating facts about the Himalayan Takin
- Their horns can reach the length of a school ruler, growing up to 64 cm (25 in) in length. Both males and females sport these ridged, upward-curving horns, which start near the midline of the head and sweep backward before pointing upward. lets takins clash head-to-head during the July-August breeding season, a ritual that establishes dominance.
- A full-grown male takin can stand as tall as a kitchen countertop, measuring 120 cm (47 in) at the shoulder and weighing up to 350 kg (770 lb), while females are slightly smaller at about 105 cm (41 in) and 300 kg (660 lb). The largest captive individual tipped the scales at 322 kg (710 lb). These dimensions make the takin one of the stockiest members of the Caprinae.
- In summer, takins gather up to 300 individuals on mountain slopes where food, salt licks, or hot springs are abundant. Such massive congregations contrast sharply with their winter bands of around 20 members.
- Takin migrate vertically each year, moving from lofty alpine pastures in the warm months down to forested valleys. lets them stay in sunny sunrise spots and access sheltering bamboo thickets.
- The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and faces a steep decline from overhunting and habitat loss. Between 1999 and 2006, illegal markets in Myanmar displayed 89 sets of takin horns.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeHimalayan region
HabitatMountain forests
DietGrass and leaves
About the Himalayan Takin
In the mist-shrouded mountains of the Himalayas, the takin roams with an air of quiet majesty, its distinctive curved horns and shaggy coat a testament to its remarkable adaptability in one of the world's most unforgiving landscapes. With a deliberate, unhurried gait, it navigates the treacherous terrain, its sure-footedness a marvel as it scales near-vertical slopes and forges through dense thickets of rhododendron and bamboo. As it moves, the takin's gentle eyes seem to hold a deep wisdom, a sense of ancient familiarity with this rugged, breathtaking world that it calls home.
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