Golden Fleece Himalayan Takin Fur

In Greek mythology, Jason and the Argonauts set out to recover the legendary Golden Fleece, and some modern scholars think this shining hide was inspired by the lustrous fur of the golden takin. One of the four recognized takin subspecies, the golden takin is a hoofed animal native to the eastern Himalayan mountain range. Its rich, golden coat fits the image of a miraculous fleece prized from a distant, mountainous land. Today, the takin is the national animal of Bhutan.

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