Takin

Appearance

The takin rivals the muskox as the largest and stockiest of the subfamily Caprinae, which includes all goats, sheep and similar species. Short legs are supported on large, two-toed hooves, which have a highly developed spur. The body is stocky and the chest is deep.

The large head is made more distinctive by the long, arched nose, and stout horns that are ridged at the base and can reach 64 cm in length. Both sexes have small horns which run parallel to the skull and then turn upwards in a short point, these are around 30 cm long. The long shaggy coat is light in color, with a dark stripe along the back, and males also have a dark face.

Four subspecies of takin are currently recognised, and these tend to show a variation in coat color. Their thick wool often turns black in color on the underside and legs. The overall coloration ranges from dark blackish to reddish-brown suffused with grayish-yellow in the eastern Himalayas to lighter yellow-gray in the Sichuan Province to mostly golden or creamy-white with fewer black hairs in the Shaanxi Province. The legend of the 'golden fleece', searched for by Jason and the Argonauts, may have been inspired by the lustrous coat of the golden takin. The hairs of the species can range from 3 cm , on the flanks of the body in summer, up to 24 cm, on the underside of the head in winter.

Takin stand 97 to 140 cm at the shoulder and measure a relatively short 160–220 cm in head-and-body length. The tail adds only a further 12 to 21.6 cm. Weights reported are somewhat variable, but the species is quite heavy. According to most reports, the males are slightly larger, reportedly weighing 300–350 kg against 250–300 kg in females. However, per Betham, females are larger, with the largest captive Takin known to the author, at 322 kg, having been female. Other sources report the takin can weigh up to 400 kg or 600 kg in some cases.

Status

Largely due to overhunting and the destruction of their natural habitat, the takin is considered Endangered in China and Vulnerable per the IUCN. Though they are not a common species naturally, their numbers appear to have been reduced considerably.

Behavior

Takin are found in small family groups of around 20 individuals, although older males may lead a more solitary existence. In the summer months, herds of up to 300 individuals gather high up on the mountain slopes. Groups often appear to occur in largest numbers when favorable feeding sites, salt-licks or hot springs are located. Mating takes place between July and August.

Adult males compete for dominance by sparring head-to-head with opponents and both sexes appear to use the scent of their own urine to indicate dominance. A single young is born after a gestation period of around eight months. Takin migrate from the upper pasture to lower, more forested areas in winter and favor sunny spots upon sunrise. When disturbed, individuals will give a 'cough' alarm call and the herd will retreat into thick bamboo thickets and lie on the ground for camouflage.

Habitat

Takin are found from forested valleys to rocky, grass covered alpine zones, at altitudes of between 1,000 and 4,500 metres above sea level. The Mishmi takin occurs in eastern Arunachal Pradesh while the Bhutan takin in western Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan. There are also records from Sikkim. Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh is a stronghold of both Mishmi, Upper Siang Dasgupta ''et al.'' and Bhutan takins.
A captive population exists and is managed by the studbook held at Minnesota Zoo in the United States.

Food

Takin feed in the early morning and late afternoon, grazing on a variety of leaves and grasses, as well as bamboo shoots and flowers. They have been observed standing on their hindlegs to feed on leaves over 3.1 m high. Salt is also an important part of their diet and groups may stay at a mineral deposit for several days.

Predators

They overlap in range with multiple potential natural predators, including the Asiatic black bear and the leopard and tigers, gray wolves and dholes. Anecdotally, both bears and wolves have been reported to prey on takin when they can, which is likely given the opportunistic nature of those predators. However the only confirmed natural predator of takin is the snow leopard, although mature adults may be exempted from regular predation from that predator. The main predator of takin are humans, who hunt them usually for meat , though secondarily for their pelts. Humans have long since exploited takin's fondness for salt-licks, where they are easily cornered and killed. Takins are likely still occasionally killed.