India, Jan. 3 -- It's the Salman Khan of our mountains," said a young man from Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh when asked about the elusive Mishmi takin. I first heard about the creature as a student of wildlife sciences, and more often while travelling through the region, and was struck by how often local communities spoke of it with awe.

Named after the Mishmi Hills, a mist-laden range of steep ridges and dense forests of the Dibang valley located at the country's northeastern tip, the Mishmi takin has an arresting face: a black, bulbous nose; a heavy, muscular frame; sharply curved horns; and a coat of long, shaggy fur. A tuft under the neck resembles a short beard, accentuating its strong jawline. Weighing around 300 kg, the anima...