Takin

/ˈtɑːkɪn/ noun

Definition

A large goat-like animal from the mountains of China and the Himalayas, with thick fur and stubby horns.

Etymology

From Tibetan 'takki' or similar Himalayan language sources. The animal wasn't well-known to English speakers until Western explorers ventured into Tibet in the 1800s-1900s.

Kelly Says

The takin is one of the world's rarest and strangest animals, and it was basically unknown to science until the 1800s—imagine discovering an entire species of giant creatures hidden in the mountains! It's now endangered, but zoos are working to save them.

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