Motithang Takin Preserve

Overview

The history of the Takin is deeply rooted in Bhutanese mythology. According to legend, the "Divine Madman," Drukpa Kunley, created the animal in the 15th century by joining the head of a goat to the body of a cow after a request from his devotees to perform a miracle. Because of this sacred origin, the Takin was declared the national animal of Bhutan.

The preserve was originally a small zoo, but the Fourth King of Bhutan ordered the animals to be released, believing it was improper for a Buddhist nation to keep animals in cages. However, the Takins had become so domesticated that they wandered the streets of Thimphu looking for food. The government then created this large, fenced-in forested area to allow them to live freely while remaining protected. Visitors can walk along the perimeter fence to observe these gentle, heavy-set creatures grazing among the trees.