Conservation

Distribution & Population Demographics

Takin (Budorcas Taxicolor) species can be found in Central and Southern China, Eastern Tibet, Northern Assam, Northern Burma, and Sikkim. They can be found roaming forest valleys, grasslands, shrubland, and rocky terrain and thrive in elevation from 1000 to 4250 meters. During the summer, Takin feed in alpine meadows up to 4000 meters, and during the winter, Takin descend into the valleys and forests as low as 1000 meters.

The IUNC has listed the Takin as threatened species and the population is declining. In Tibet the population is declining due to hunting for bushmeat. Where they trap and hunt with crossbow. Their species is also declining in China due to residential and commercial development.

Conservation Action

The Takin (Budorcas Taxicolor) is protected under the National Wildlife Law of 1988. Some species are taken yearly in trophy hunts, but they are not legally hunted. Since they are protected by legal statute and by nature reserves, the number of Takin have increased. Due to their protection, herds of 100 and greater have been seen in China.

With the population threatened, there should be stricter laws in place, even while trophy hunting. Through the IUNC, they have developed site/area protection, species management, and awareness communications as action items. There should be more education about threatened species.

Keywords: elevation, threatened, population, protected, nature reserves

Song, Y.-L. (2008, June 30). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/3160/9643719#population

Marceau, J. (n.d.). Budorcas taxicolor (Takin). Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Budorcas_taxicolor/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, July 22). Takin. Wikipedia. Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takin