Motithang Takin Preserve
Tucked into a steep pine forest in the Motithang neighborhood above the capital, this sanctuary was created to protect Bhutan’s national animal, the takin (Budorcas taxicolor whitei). A taxonomically unique mammal that shares characteristics with both a goat and a cow, local legend holds that the creature was miraculously conjured in the 15th century by the revered saint Drukpa Kunley (the Divine Madman).
The preserve features a shaded wooden boardwalk that loops through natural blue pine and bamboo woodland. Guides suggest arriving around 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM during morning feeding hours, when the herd gathers along the lower fences near the viewing platforms, offering the clearest photographic views before the animals retreat deeper into the forested canopy for the afternoon.
