Talking About Takin

My first, and so far only, encounter with this animal was at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, in Alberta, but a quick trip to the other side of the world would put me in closer contact with them. After all, these mammals are native to the eastern Himalayas and are Bhutan’s national animal.

Takin stand about 3 to 4 feet high at the shoulder (100-130 centimeters) and are ruminant herbivores. They eat mostly bamboo leaves, grasses, and even pines. The live in higher altitudes, well over 6000 feet (2000 meters). Clearly most zoo habitats do not meet their standards for preferred environments, however as a threatened species, zoos are valuable for education and breeding programs. The main reason for their decline in the wild is human encroachment, but they are also hunted for meat, sometimes illegally. They are fully protected under the law in China.

Photo by Author, Female Adult Takin in Edmonton Zoo

Legend of this creatures unusual beginnings center around the saint Lama Drukpa Kunley, who was a bit of a nut case at the time. He came to Bhutan in the 15th Century with the intent of showing off his magical powers. He demanded a goat and cow for his own personal feast. At the end of eating he stuck the head of the goat onto the remains of the cow and commanded it to come alive, thus creating the Takin, if you can believe it.

Natural adaptations such as having a large nose to warm the cold air, have helped the Takin to live where it does. They can push over small trees to get leaves or can even stand up on their hind legs, resting their front ones on the tree trunk, to reach higher leaves.

Photo by Author, a young Takin at the Edmonton Zoo.

DNA has revealed Takin to be a distant relative of the sheep and the Musk Ox. Indeed they are covered with wool, which tends to be gold or brown on their body, and darker, or black on their stomach and legs. They have one set of horns. In the summer Takin form into large herds of a hundred or so animals, in the winter, when food is harder to find, they live in smaller herds. Older bulls (males) often live solitary lives having been run off by younger ones.

Can they be domesticated? Everyone wants a different kind of pet, but Takins are probably not a good choice, their size, combined with their goat-like attitude can make them very dangerous.