Takin (Budorcas spp.) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status

• Total population estimates (Sangay et al. 2016)
  • No reliable estimates
    • Best available estimate: 7,000-12,000 individuals
  • B. bedfordi
    • Of takin species, has most reliable estimates
    • Estimates vary; perhaps 1,250 individuals to as many as 3,000-5,000 individuals
  • B. taxicolor
    • China: about 3,500 individuals
    • India: 220-300 individuals
  • B. tibetana
    • No total population estimate
    • "Several thousand" individuals as a very rough estimate
  • B. whitei
    • 500-700 individuals

IUCN Status

• B. taxicolor
  • As of Apr 2019, IUCN has not updated takin assessment to reflect updated taxonomy; needs updating
    • Former subspecies elevated to species-level taxonomy
  • All takin species listed under Bucadorcas taxicolor
    • Vulnerable (2008 assessment) (Song et al. 2008)

CITES Status

• Appendix II (UNEP 2020)

Status in China

• Class I Protected Status by National Wildlife Protection Law of 1988
  • 14 nature reserves offer protection of takins and takin habitat
  • Logging bans begun in late 1990s instrumental in improving protecting these habitats

Status in India and Bhutan

• Protected
  • B. t. whitei protected by Schedule I of Bhutan's Forest and Nature Conservation Act (1995)

Legal status in Myanmar

• Uncertain
  • Occurs in protected areas in Myanmar
  • Populations decreasing in Myanmar due to bushmeat hunting

• Over hunting
• Loss of habitat, especially deforestation, road building, pasture burning
• Disturbance from tourism
• Competition and disease transmission from domestic livestock
• According to a 2010 study (Chettri et al 2010):
  • Mishmi takins of the Eastern Himalayas are especially vulnerable to climate change
  • With their narrow and restricted distribution; their habitats are influenced by:
    • Declining snowfall
    • Melting glaciers
    • Changes in the existing mix of species present
    • Decrease in productivity of alpine grassland/scrub flora

Affectionate moment between a takin parent and calf.

Takin live in rugged and remote regions, but this does not afford them enough protection against overhunting, habitat loss, and disturbance from humans.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Song et al. (2008)
UNEP-WCMC (2011)