Motithang Takin Preserve

The takin is a large hoofed animal of the eastern Himalaya with the body of a bovine and the head of a goat, and Bhutanese tradition holds that it was made by the saint Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman, who assembled it from the bones of a goat and a cow after a meal and brought it to life, which is why it is the national animal. The preserve began as a small zoo, which a later king ordered closed as inappropriate for a Buddhist country; the takin released from it refused to leave the area and wandered Thimphu, so a fenced forest enclosure was made for them instead. That enclosure is what visitors see: several hectares of hillside woodland with a viewing path, holding a small herd. Sightings depend on where the animals are grazing.

What you actually see

• Takin - the national animal, part goat and part cow in appearance.
• The forest enclosure - hillside woodland rather than pens.
• The viewing path - a short trail along the fence line.
• The origin story - the Drukpa Kunley legend told at the site.

When to go

March to May and September to November. Mornings and late afternoons are when the animals move and feed; in the middle of the day they often lie up out of sight in the trees.

Honest expectations

This is a fenced enclosure, so it is not wildlife watching in the wild. The animals may not be visible at all if they are in the far corner of the woodland. The site is small and the visit takes half an hour. Facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Thimphu lies below; Tango and Cheri monasteries are north up the valley.