Takin

This is a takin. It is thought that this is the mythical beast that Jason and the Argonauts were sent out for to collect its Golden Fleece. It was intended by his evil uncle to be a suicide mission. It was the Golden Fleece of a semi-divine ram named Chrysomallus, sired by Poseidon. Some experts believe the takin was the real animal that the myth was based on. The takin has always been a legend, however. Found in the Himalayas, it is said to have supernatural origins. According to legend in Bhutan, a cow and a goat were brought before a wise Lama who proceeded to eat all the meat of both animals, leaving only the bones. When the Lama finished, he put parts of both animals and pieces them together. With a snap of his fingers, he gave the animal life and it became the takin. Today the takin is revered in Bhutan and is its national animal. It’s a goat-antelope, related to sheep. It’s also the rival of the Muskox for being the stockiest of their species.

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