Takin

Budorcas taxicolor. Asia. Mannequin mount, 1908.

NHM Vienna is the only museum in Central Europe to have a takin skin mount on display. It was bought in London in 1908, and was considered exceptional even then.

GOLDEN FLEECE
Although its appearance would seem to indicate otherwise, there is now no doubt that the takin is related to sheep and goats. Since its shape combines features of cows, chamois, goats, sheep, and antelopes, the older literature also includes terms such as cattle chamois and gnu goat. Takins live in the eastern regions of the Himalayas at an altitude of 1,000 to 4,000 meters, where they roam in large herds near the tree line in summer. They are outstanding climbers and undemanding herbivores, feeding on leaves, needles and bark. In winter the herds break up into small groups of no more than 20 animals, which often move to woods lower down the slopes. When threatened, they take refuge in dense bamboo thickets. The takin’s strange appearance is due to its adaptation to the inhospitable environment: both their size and their stocky shape with short legs are advantages at low temperatures. Takins also have large sinus cavities for warming their breathing air; this explains their bulky snout. The coat of a subspecies that shines a striking yellow-gold color in the sun was frequently described by early travellers as being like the golden fleece from the Greek legend of the Argonauts. However, it is highly unlikely that the takin was known to the ancient Greeks. Threatened by the destruction of its habitat and by hunting, the takin is now considered endangered. Because its habitat overlaps in some areas with that of the giant panda, there is at least a chance that the species could be saved from extinction in these sanctuaries.