Rare Himalayan Takin herd recorded in North Sikkim

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK,: Nearly 27 years after the Himalayan Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) was first documented in Sikkim, a herd of the species has been sighted once again in the Bakuchen area under Tingda Reserve Forest in North Sikkim (Mangan district).

The sighting took place on June 14 during a joint inspection and patrolling exercise carried out by officials from the Forest and Environment department and the State Tourism department. A herd of eight takins was captured on video for the first time in the State, marking a major milestone in Sikkim’s wildlife conservation history.

The footage was recorded by Tsewang Nedup Bhutia (Maggie), Head Forest Guard under the Phodong Territorial Range, who was part of a survey team assessing a proposed trekking route between Kabi and Panch Pokhari in North Sikkim.

The Himalayan takin, a large and robust goat-antelope found in the rugged valleys and alpine regions of the eastern Himalayas, is known for its distinctive appearance, often described as a mix between a cow and a goat. It is also the national animal of Bhutan. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to threats such as habitat loss, deforestation, and hunting.

This latest sighting holds particular importance as it represents not only the first-ever video documentation of the species in Sikkim but also the largest herd recorded in the State so far. No previous visual record exists of such a large group.

Recalling the encounter, Bhutia said the team had been conducting a survey from June 13 as part of trekking trials in the region. “On June 14, while travelling between Dalapchand and Bakuchen, we noticed a pungent smell in the air, which usually indicates the presence of a wild animal nearby. I asked our guide to slow down, and at around 1:39 pm, we spotted the animals on the left side of the Ratey Chhu River,” he said.

“I immediately identified them as takins, which are known as the national animal of Bhutan. I informed the team that this was the first sighting of the species in the wild in Sikkim. There were eight individuals in the herd. As soon as they noticed us, they rushed towards the river. I managed to capture only four on camera, as the others had already crossed. The entire sighting lasted around 25 seconds before they disappeared into the forest,” he added.

Bhutia said the team waited in the area for another 10 to 15 minutes but could not locate the animals again. “It was an emotional moment for me to witness such a rare species with my own eyes for the first time in Sikkim,” he said.

He further noted that the animals were likely grazing in the area at the time and reiterated that the pungent smell is often a sign of nearby wildlife.

According to Bhutia, while he recorded the initial footage, Kazi Sherpa, joint director of the State Tourism Department, later captured additional visuals, including footage of Bhutia himself. Sherpa initially mistook the animals for blue sheep before they were correctly identified as takins.

Sikkim's first documented record of the Himalayan Takin dates back to June 16, 1999, when the animal was first sighted by Bishnu Kumar Sharma, then supervisor of Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary in East Sikkim. The sighting was subsequently photographed and documented by late Chezung Lachungpa, then District Forest Officer (Wildlife). The record was later published in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society in 2000 as evidence of a westward range extension of the species.

Recounting the first sighting on June 16, 1999, Bishnu Kumar Sharma, then supervisor at Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary (Wildlife), said he initially had no idea what a Himalayan Takin was.

“People came to me saying that an animal had appeared and described it as a sheep. I went down past Tsongmo, below the shops at 17th Mile, where there is a steep stream called Rongchu. The animal was on the other side of the Rongchu bridge. I rushed there with two or three watchmen. When we reached, we realised this was not a sheep but something entirely different. Since I didn’t know what it was, I returned to the Traffic Control Post. We didn’t have mobile phones then, so I used the Army’s phone to inform the then DFO (Wildlife East), the late Chezung Lachungpa,” said Bishnu to SIKKIM EXPRESS.

Sharma said he first sent a message through the police reporting an unknown animal near Rongchu bridge and later spoke to Lachungpa, who assured him he would visit the next morning.

“He arrived around 7 am. It had been snowing heavily, but around 10 or 10:30 am, when the sun came out, the animal emerged slowly from the forest and walked towards the bridge. It was quite large,” Sharma recalled.

“As soon as Lachungpa saw it, he got very excited and said, ‘This is the national animal of Bhutan, a Takin.’ He mentioned there had been informal reports earlier, but no official sighting.”

Lachungpa then photographed the animal, marking the first documented record of the species in Sikkim. “He later gave me a certificate, and the incident was also reported in newspapers,” Sharma said.

However, about 15 to 20 days later, the animal moved towards the 4th Mile area and began staying near a sheep shed. “It befriended the sheep there and started staying in the shed. One day, it attacked the owner and killed him. After roaming in the area for some time, it disappeared and was never seen again,” he said.

Referring to the recent sighting of a herd of eight takins, Sharma said, “At that time, we saw only one male takin. Now, eight takins sightings after so many years shows that forest protection and conservation efforts have improved. These animals are not being disturbed.”

He believes the herd likely migrated from Bhutan through the Pangolakha range. “They must have entered through adjoining forests and moved deep inside the sanctuary. These are dense, undisturbed areas with very little human presence.”

Sharma added that the animals may have been in the region for months without being detected. “We do not regularly patrol the deepest forest areas, so it is possible they arrived earlier and gradually moved here. Researchers now need to understand how a herd of eight migrated together.”

Drawing a parallel with past wildlife movement, he noted that species often travel long distances through forest corridors. “Just like tigers have been known to migrate across regions, these animals may also be using connected habitats to move,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of both research and field patrolling. “The deep forest areas remain largely undisturbed, which is why such species can survive. Protecting these habitats is crucial,” he said.