Thimphu
Motithang Takin Preserve
December 2010
The Motithang Takin Preserve in Thimphu began as a small zoo. Bhutan’s fourth king ordered the animals released because keeping them confined was considered inconsistent with Buddhist values. The takins remained near the city and returned in search of food, leading to the establishment of the present forested preserve.
The preserve centers on the Bhutan takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei), the national animal of Bhutan, and also keeps sambar (Rusa unicolor) and barking deer. Takins are large mountain-dwelling bovids belonging to Caprinae, the group that includes goats and sheep. The species Budorcas taxicolor is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
According to Bhutanese legend, the Buddhist teacher Drukpa Kunley created the takin by joining a goat’s head to a cow’s body. This cultural origin story contributes to the animal’s significance as a national symbol.
