Gangtok, June 16 -- In a major boost to wildlife conservation efforts in Sikkim, forest officials have successfully documented a herd of the rare Mishmi Takin in the Tingda Reserve Forest, marking one of the most important records of the vulnerable species in the state in over 20 years.

The historic sighting took place during a routine patrol at Bakuchen under Tingda Reserve Forest, where officials recorded the first-ever video footage of the species from the area. The footage revealed a herd of eight Mishmi Takins, the largest group ever documented from the locality.

The Mishmi Takin, scientifically known as Budorcas taxicolor, is a large mountain ungulate native to the Eastern Himalayas. Sikkim represents the westernmost edge of the s...