THE LEGEND OF THE TAKEIN
In the 15th century, the Bhutanese people requested a Tibetan saint named Drukpa Kuenly, also famously known as the Divine Madman, to perform a miracle.
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The Divine Madman agreed to do so, once he was given a whole cow and goat for lunch. When he had finished his meal, only the bones of the two animals remained.
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He took the head of the goat and fixed it onto the skeleton of the cow, and to the amazement of the people, he created a live animal. The animal was then given the name Dong Gyem Tsey (takin) and since then, the animal has roamed the hills of Bhutan.
What is a takin?
Takin was the term used by the Digaru Mishimi tribe of north-eastern India. The local name for the animal is Drong Gimtsey in Bhutan. The animal is a member of the goat and antelope subfamily known as Caprinae. There are four known species of takin that inhabit Bhutan, Myanmar, India, and China. Of these, the Bhutan takin is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN in 2002.
Within Bhutan, the takin inhabits the forested mountains in the northern region. During the summer, they congregate in large numbers in the alpine valleys in the Jigme Dorji National Park. Mating season takes place from May to June and young are born after 7-8 months. In the Winter, they descend down to warmer areas where the herds then break up into smaller groups.
Visiting hours
March - October
9 am - 5 pm
November - February
9 am - 4 pm
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