03 Jul 2026
Discover the Takin — its unique traits, cultural significance, and why this mystical animal is revered as Bhutan's national symbol.
The Takin is a large goat-antelope found in the eastern Himalayas, and it holds a special place in Bhutanese culture and legend.
According to local myth, the animal was created by the 15th-century saint Drukpa Kunley — the 'Divine Madman' — who assembled it from the bones of a goat and a cow.
Today the Takin is protected, and can be seen at the Motithang Takin Preserve just above Thimphu.
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