Jason may very well have been seeking the long, shaggy coat of the takin, which can be golden in color. Takins appear much like an ox, with strong legs and broad, round hooves. Their coat is dense and shaggy, with a stripe along the back. The tail is short and bushy. A bull's face is often dark, while only the nose is dark on females and calves.
All takins have an arched nose and hairy snout.
When looking at a takin, the first thing likely to catch the observer's attention is their impressive horns. Carried on both sexes, the horns arise from the midsection of their massive head, quickly curve outward and then sweep backward and upward to a point. Although takins are not currently considered an endangered species, increased human activities in the takins' natural range are having a negative effect on their populations. There are less than 5,000 Sichuan takins and about 1,200 Shensi takins left in the wild. Less than 10,000 wild Mishmi takins remain.