A RARE ANIMAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2594, 31 August 1909, Page 3

A RARE ANIMAL.

FIRST TAKEN TO REACH EUROPE ALIVE.

The London Zoological Society has just received and placed on exhibition at the gardens in Regent’s Part a, fine young example of the takin, which, next to the. okapi, is the rarest and least known of the ruminants. The takin comes somewhere between goats and antelopes. Takins are heavily built and powerful animals. An adult male stands three and a-half feet high at the shoulder. They, are clad with long and coarse brick-colored hair, which forms a thick fringe round the neck. Very little is known of their habits, as they are natives of the highlands of Tibet, and have been seen by very few white sportsmen, while no example has hitherto reached Europe alive. Several years' ago a single specimen was captured, after killing one hunter and wounding another. It was taken to India, but died as the result of eating aconite, and its kkull ana skin were 'sent to the British Museum. The animal which has now reached the Zoological Gardens was captured by the Maharajah: of Bhutan’s men in NorthWest Bhutan. The' Bntish-Indian Steamship Company hade special arrangements for its care on the sea voyage, and it has*'reached London apparently in good health.