Bhutan will soon have better knowledge and deeper understanding about our national animal, Bhutan Takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei) especially on its migration pattern. The study is underway at Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment (UWCIE) in Bumthang.

The UWICE together with Wildlife Conservation Division (WCD), recently radio collared six more Takins consisting of one male and five females, at Tsarijathang under Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP). The Takins are currently at their summer grazing area in the meadows of Tsarijathang.

Tshencho Tshering of Wildlife Rescue and Animal Health Centre at Taba, recently returned from Tsarijathang. He was there to help UIWCE study team tranquilize and capture Takins for radio collaring. He said that the team had successfully tranquilized and radio collared six Takins this summer. He said, “this is the fourth batch of Takins to be radio collared for study.”

He shared that earlier in April, group of Takins were also radio collared at Kabina in Damji, under Gasa dzongkhag. Takins in winter, migrate to lower altitudes in Damji and Tashithang area under JDNP. With the current batch, number of Takin radio collared for study totals to 15.

Meanwhile, the study team members are still at Tsarijathang monitoring and collecting data from the radio collared Takins.

Takin in Bhutan is believed to be a mystical animal created by divine Madman, Lam Drukpa Kuenley, by placing head of a goat with the body of a cow. Internet sources however, describe it as one of the larger and stockier of the goat antelope. It is distributed from Bhutan and eastward to Myanmar and China. Back in Bhutan, it is primarily  found in JDNP.

Takins normally lives in a herd and forages in rocky, grass covered alpine zones in the winter while in summer they descend to altitude as low as 100 to 400 meters above sea level.

Takin in Bhutan are classified as vulnerable and is protected under Forest and Nature Conservation laws.

Reported by: Ugyen Tshering, ICS