Considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a rare Takin or gnu goat has been caught on a trap camera by the forest department in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng.
The goat was caught on camera at about 3,500 metres altitude.
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The Department of Environment and Forests stated that this was the first instance of the mammal being seen in the East Kameng district.
The department in a tweet said, “Camera trap images of Bhutanese Takin from Seppa FD. It is the first instance of camera trap image capture of this animal in East Kameng. The cameras were installed in high altitude areas under snow leopard population assessment survey by the Department.”
Camera trap images of Bhutanese Takin from Seppa FD. It is first instance of camera trap image capture of this animal in East Kameng.
The cameras were installed in high altitude areas under snow leopard population assessment survey by the Department.@NatungMama @PemaKhanduBJP pic.twitter.com/iyce5shUuSReady for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
— Dept. of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, AP (@ArunForests) December 18, 2021
The takin is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and it is also considered to be Endangered in China.
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The mammal has gone into this state as it is threatened by overhunting and also the destruction of the natural habitat.
One of the major reasons for it being hunted is for its horns which are illegally traded in Myanmar.
During three surveys carried out from 1999 to 2006 in the Tachilek market, a total of 89 sets of horns were observed openly for sale.