"has been an integral part of Thimphu city and is an ongoing visitor attraction. NCD plans to expand the collection of the preserve by introducing other rarely seen animals of Bhutan such as the red panda, and the Himalayan serow. Takin attract attention due to their unusual appearance; taxonomists were originally uncertain of this animal's phylogeny and many people describe it as a “bee-stung moose”. Bhutan takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei) is listed as a vulnerable species of goat-antelope, native to Bhutan, India and the People's Republic of China. Its habitat is alpine meadows during the summer season, above an altitude"
"and rhododendrons that lead to their natural salt licks and grazing areas. The size of a takin herd changes with the seasons: during spring and early summer, herds can number up to 300 animals; during cooler months, when food is less plentiful, the large herds break up into smaller groups of 10 to 35 takins as they head down the mountain. Herds are made up of adult females (called cows), kids (which is what takin young are called), subadults, and young males. Older males, called bulls, are generally solitary except during the ""rut,"" or mating season, in late summer. The"
"cows give birth to a single kid in early spring. Within three days of its birth, a takin kid is able to follow its mother through most types of terrain. This is very important if predators are nearby or if the herd needs to travel a long distance for food. Because of their large, powerful bodies and impressive horns, takins have few natural enemies other than bears or wolves. They are generally slow moving but can react quickly if angered or frightened. When needed, a takin can leap nimbly from rock to rock. If a takin senses danger, it warns"
"oily, bitter-tasting substance that acts as a natural raincoat in storms and fog. Streaks of this oily stuff can be seen where takins rub. They also have an odor that smells like a combination of horse and musk. Takins eat in the early morning and again in the late afternoon, and they rest when they are not feeding. Since they live at altitudes above 14,000 feet (4,300 meters), they feed on many kinds of alpine and deciduous plants and evergreens. When it comes to food, takins eat almost any vegetation within reach. This includes the tough leaves of evergreen rhododendrons"
"of , where they feed primarily on grasses. During the summer monsoon season, the lower elevation forests are inhospitable for takin due to the abundance of leeches, mosquitoes, and horseflies. Alpine meadows provide rich grazing for takin and as a result some males have been reported to weigh as much as a tonne. Courtship and mating occur in July and August. After a gestation period of about 8 months, a single calf is born, usually in late February or March. Adult takin have a golden yellow and brownish coat; calves are initially black in colour. As the rainy season tapers,"
"to alarm the mother, and the mother answers with a low, guttural call that allows for them to reunite. A takin kid eats solid food and stops nursing at around two months old, although it may continue to stay near Mom until after her next calf is born. Horns begin to grow when the takin kid is about six months old. At birth, takin kids are much darker than adults to give them camouflage from predators; they even have a dark stripe along the back that disappears as the youngsters gets older. Their coat gets lighter in color, longer, and"
"at a mineral deposit for several days. They overlap in range with multiple potential natural predators including the Asiatic black bear and the leopard, and (more seldomly) tigers, gray wolves, snow leopards, 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 (due to their size) from that predator. The main predator of takin are humans, who hunt them usually for meat"
"the national animal of Bhutan. The takin rivals the muskox as the largest and stockiest of the subfamily Caprinae, which includes goats, sheep, and similar species. Its short legs are supported by large, two-toed hooves, which each have a highly developed spur. It has a stocky body and a deep chest. Its large head is made more distinctive by its long, arched nose and stout horns, which are ridged at the base. These horns are present in both sexes, and run parallel to the skull before turning upwards to a short point; they are about long, but can grow up"
"may find takin cows by tracking their scent. Once they meet, a bull sniffs and licks the female to determine if she is receptive. Takin cows seek out areas of dense vegetation to give birth to a single kid in early spring (twins are rare). Within three days of its birth, a takin kid is able to follow its mother through most types of terrain. This is very important if bears or wolves are nearby or if the herd needs to travel a long distance for food. If young Taken are separated from their mother, it lets out a noise"
"Jason and the Argonauts, may have been inspired by the lustrous coat of the golden takin (""B. t. bedfordi""). Hair length can range from , on the flanks of the body in summer, up to on the underside of the head in winter. In height, takin stand at the shoulder, but measure a relatively short in head-and-body length, with the tail adding only an additional . Measurements of weights vary, but according to most reports, the males are slightly larger, weighing against in females. Sources including Betham (1908) report that females are larger, with the largest captive takin known to"
"the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island. Takin are found in small family groups of around 20 individuals, although older males may lead more solitary existences. In the summer, herds of up to 300 individuals gather high 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 in 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"
"Qilin The qilin (; ), or kirin in Japanese, is a mythical hooved chimerical creature known in Chinese and other East Asian cultures, said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler. Qilin is a specific type of the ""lin"" mythological family of one-horned beasts. The earliest references to the ""qilin"" are in the 5th century BC ""Zuo Zhuan"". The ""qilin"" made appearances in a variety of subsequent Chinese works of history and fiction, such as Feng Shen Bang. Emperor Wu of Han apparently captured a live ""qilin"" in 122 BC, although Sima Qian"
"Tugarin Tugarin (Russian: Тугарин) is a mythical creature in East European bylinas and fairy tales, which personifies evil and cruelty and appears in a dragon-like form. Tugarin has many different names in East Slavic mythology, such as Zmey Tugarin, Zmey Tugaretin, Zmeishche Tugarishche and others. ""Tugarin"" as a corruption of ""Tugar-Khan"" (Tugor-Khan of the Turkic Polovets), has been contested by an etymology from the root ""tug"" ""grief"". Tugarin, although spoken of as a dragon, largely retains an ""anthropomorphic"" form, and is seen riding a horse. It appears he has wings with which to fly with, and he soars to the"
"and oaks, willow and pine bark, bamboo leaves, and a variety of new-growth leaves and herbs. They can easily stand on their hind legs, front legs propped against a tree, to reach for higher vegetation if they need to. Each spring, takins gather in large herds and migrate up the mountains to the tree line. As cooler weather approaches and food becomes scarce, the takins move down to forested valleys. As they move up, down, or across the mountains, takins use the same routes over and over. This creates a series of well-worn paths through the dense growths of bamboo"
"one male and two female takin from the wild. Wild populations of takin are believed to be stable, though there are no published studies to confirm this, and no one knows how climate change will affect the population of this species in Bhutan. The only known threats they face are from predators and very occasional poaching. Motithang Takin Preserve Motithang Takin Preserve, located in the Motithang district of Thimphu, Bhutan is a wildlife reserve area for takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Originally a mini-zoo, it was converted into a preserve when it was discovered that the animals refrained from"
"Bhutan takin The Bhutan takin (""Budorcas taxicolor whitei"") is a vulnerable subspecies of Takin native to Bhutan, North Eastern India, Western part of China, and Tibet. The main threats to the Bhutan Takin are hunting and habitat loss. In Bhutan, Takin are found in bamboo forests at altitudes of , where they eat grass, buds and leaves. Takin are diurnal, active in the day, resting in the heat on particularly sunny days. Takin gather in small herds in winter and herds of up to a hundred individuals in the summer; in winter, they move to lower elevations and split into"
"Motithang Takin Preserve Motithang Takin Preserve, located in the Motithang district of Thimphu, Bhutan is a wildlife reserve area for takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Originally a mini-zoo, it was converted into a preserve when it was discovered that the animals refrained from inhabiting the surrounding forest even when set free. The reason for declaring takin as a national animal of Bhutan on 25 November 2005 (""Budorcas taxicolor"") is attributed to a legend of the animal’s creation in Bhutan in the 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kunley. The local mythology related to declaring takin as the national animal of"
"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 give a 'cough' alarm call and the herd retreats into thick bamboo thickets and lies on the ground for camouflage. 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 hind legs to feed on leaves over high. Salt is also an important part of their diets, and groups may stay"
"to the westerly bend of the river. In India it occurs in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Bhutan takin The Bhutan takin (""Budorcas taxicolor whitei"") is a vulnerable subspecies of Takin native to Bhutan, North Eastern India, Western part of China, and Tibet. The main threats to the Bhutan Takin are hunting and habitat loss. In Bhutan, Takin are found in bamboo forests at altitudes of , where they eat grass, buds and leaves. Takin are diurnal, active in the day, resting in the heat on particularly sunny days. Takin gather in small herds in winter and herds of up to"
"to . Its long, shaggy coat is light in color with a dark stripe along the back, and males (bulls) also have dark faces. 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 their undersides and legs. Their 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 (rarely) creamy-white with fewer black hairs in the Shaanxi Province. The legend of the 'golden fleece', searched for by"
"held here. It was also the check point for the SAARC Car Rally. The Motithang Takin Preserve in Thimphu is a wildlife reserve area for takin, the National Animal of Bhutan. Originally a mini-zoo, it was converted into a preserve when it was discovered that the animals refrained from inhabiting the surrounding forest even when set free. The reason for declaring the takin as a National Animal of Bhutan on 25 November 2005 (""Budorcas taxicolor"") is attributed to a legend of the animal's creation in Bhutan in the 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kunley. The King of Bhutan believed that"
"Tannin (monster) Tannin () or Tunannu (Ugaritic: 𐎚𐎐𐎐 ""tnn"", vocalized ""tu-un-na-nu"") was a sea monster in Canaanite, Phoenician, and Hebrew mythology used as a symbol of chaos and evil. The name may derive from a root meaning ""howling"" or from coiling in a manner like smoke. In modern Hebrew usage the word Tanin (תנין) means ""crocodile."" Tannin appears in the Baal Cycle as one of the servants of Yam ( ""Sea"") defeated by Baʿal ( ""Lord"") or bound by his sister, ʿAnat. He is usually depicted as serpentine, possibly with a double tail. The ""tanninim"" () also appear in the"
"and evergreens, and almost any vegetation within reach. This includes the tough leaves of evergreen rhododendrons and oaks, willow and pine bark, bamboo leaves, and a variety of new-growth leaves and herbs. They can easily stand on their hind legs, front legs propped against a tree, to reach for higher vegetation if they need to, and use their powerful bodies to push over small trees to bring leaves closer. Like cows and sheep, golden takins are ruminants and pass food into the first stomach, the rumen, when they first swallow it. Microbes in the rumen help digest very small particles"
"evidence indicating that tapirs ever existed in Africa, so it is likely they were added simply for their ""prehistoric"" appearance. In the of the film, the hominids instead coexist with warthogs, which they learn to hunt for food. Mark the Tapir is a character in the animated series ""Sonic Boom"". He is a parody of a stereotypical obsessed fan. Drowzee and Hypno from the ""Pokémon"" franchise are based on tapirs, with their ability to eat dreams being derived from the baku. Tapir A tapir ( , or , ) is a large, herbivorous mammal, similar in shape to a pig,"
"(1644–1911) was a fanciful animal. Depictions of the qilin show a creature with the head of a dragon, the antlers of a deer, the skin and scales of a fish, the hooves of an ox and tail of a lion. ""Girin"", ""Kirin"", or 기린 is the Korean form of ""qilin"". It is described as a maned creature with the torso of a deer, an ox tail with the hooves of a horse. The qilin in Korean art were initially depicted as more deer-like, however over time they have transformed into more horse-like. They were one of the four divine creatures"
"the animals move down to elevations of and to browse during the winter season on temperate vegetation of broad leaf forests. Takin have little economic value; they provide a traditional medicinal use by women to help them during child birth. and are of keen interest to a relatively small but uncertain number of trekkers annually in Bhutan. Genetic health of the animals in the takin preserve is believed to be on the decline due to inbreeding, according to the Nature Conservation Division (NCD) of the Ministry of Agriculture of Bhutan (NCD). The NCD is planning to introduce fresh genes of"
"shaggier as they get older. Life span: 16 to 18 years in the wild, up to 20 years in zoos Gestation: 6 to 7 months Number of young at birth: 1 (twins are uncommon) Age of maturity: 2 years Size: Length - 5 to 7.3 feet (1.5 to 2.2 meters) Size: Shoulder height - 3.3 to 4.5 feet (1 to 1.4 meters) Weight: Females up to 616 pounds (280 kilograms); males up to 770 pounds (350 kilograms) Weight at birth: 11 to 15 pounds (5 to 7 kilograms) http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/takin#sthash.PE3GvYAb.dpuf Golden takin The golden takin (""Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi"") is an endangered"
"art. Alternatively, it is depicted as a dragon shaped like a deer, but with an ox's tail instead of a lion's tail. The Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd., is named after the animal and uses a picture of one in its labels. They are also often portrayed as partially unicorn-like in appearance, but with a backwards curving horn. In the Post-Qin Chinese hierarchy of mythological animals, the qilin is ranked as the third most powerful creature (after the dragon and phoenix), but in Japan, the kirin occupies the top spot. This is following the style of the ancient Chinese, as qilin"
"to the Arctic muskox. Physical similarities have now been found to be due to convergent evolution and not through a common ancestor. DNA sequencing recently revealed various sheep are close relatives (goats, tahrs, sheep, bharal, Barbary sheep). Takin inhabit the same dense bamboo forests as the better known giant panda. Sichuan takins live in these dense thickets and bamboo groves, in family groups of up to 30 individuals. Despite being large, stocky and relatively slow moving, the Sichuan takin is quite agile in maneuvering its rocky habitat with often steep and challenging slopes. The inaccessibility of the takin’s mountainous habitat"
"of food. Larger particles pass into a second chamber that regurgitates these particles, called cud, back into the mouth to be chewed into pieces small enough to be digested properly. Golden takins typically eat in the early morning and again in the late afternoon. They spend the day under the cover of dense vegetation, venturing into the open only on cloudy or foggy days. Golden takins communicate using a variety of body postures. For example, a male shows dominance with an erect posture and a raised neck and chin. He might position his body sideways to another takin to emphasize"
"Sigbin The Sigbin or Sigben is a creature in Philippine mythology said to come out at night to suck the blood of victims from their shadows. It is said to walk backwards with its head lowered between its hind legs, and to have the ability to become invisible to other creatures, especially humans. It resembles a hornless goat, but has very large ears which it can clap like a pair of hands and a long, flexible tail that can be used as a whip. The Sigbin is said to emit a nauseating odor. It is believed to issue forth from"
"Griffin The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (Greek: γρύφων, ""grýphōn"", or γρύπων, ""grýpōn"", early form ""γρύψ"", ""grýps""; ) is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and sometimes an eagle's talons as its front feet. Because the lion was traditionally considered the king of the beasts and the eagle the king of birds by the Middle Ages the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature. Since classical antiquity, Griffins were known for guarding treasure and priceless possessions. In Greek and Roman texts, griffins and"
"Lutin A lutin () is a type of hobgoblin (an amusing goblin) in French folklore and fairy tales. Female lutins are called ""lutines"" (). A lutin (varieties include the ""Nain Rouge"" or ""red dwarf"") plays a similar role in the folklore of Normandy to house-spirits in England, Germany and Scandinavia. ""Lutin"" is generally translated into English as: brownie, elf, fairy, gnome, goblin, hobgoblin, imp, leprechaun, pixie, puck, or sprite. It sometimes takes the form of a horse saddled ready to ride, and in this shape is called Le Cheval Bayard. Lutins sometimes tangle people's or horses' hair into elf-locks. A"