Details
Budorcas taxicolor
A large mountain bovid from the eastern Himalaya and Chinese mountains. Stocky build, thick fur, and heavy curved horns make it distinctive.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Takins use mountain forest, bamboo forest, subalpine meadows, and rocky slopes. Seasonal movements often link high summer ranges with forested winter valleys.
They have golden to dark brown shaggy fur, a thick neck, swollen-looking muzzle, and large horns. Oily fur helps in cold, wet mountains.
They move in herds and can travel powerfully across steep slopes. When alarmed, they retreat into forest and dense vegetation.
They eat grasses, bamboo leaves, shoots, tree leaves, shrubs, and bark. Individuals may rear up to reach higher branches.
Males join female groups during the breeding season. Females give birth to a single calf that later follows the herd across slopes.
The takin is Bhutan's national animal, and mountain forest protection is important for its persistence.
