Faridoon Shahryar's Blog


Monday, November 5, 2018

Takin Zoo: A paradise for peace in Thimphu, Bhutan

Takin is the national animal of
Bhutan. Legend says that a Tibetan saint called Drukpa Kunley, conjured it by joining the skull of a goat and the skeleton of a cow. The zoo is named after the animal. The zoo was quite small compared to the ones we have been to but the animals had adequate space to move around. There was a small, but unique variety of animals. We saw the Himalayan Gaural, the famous Takin,  barking deer, and sambar. A few of the animals came up to us and started rubbing their heads against the fence, obviously looking to be petted. But the bars were thin, so one could only pet them with their fingers. We fed them some grass growing nearby. A sambar also licked my fingers. We walked through the forest surrounding the enclosures. It was very peaceful, the vibrant colours of the forest seemed to pop out, the sun was shining bright and the trees were softly rustling in the wind. We could see a few climbers on the tree, which had turned red due to the change in season. A stream flowed alongside the path.

Though the zoo itself seems to be an occupying idea but when combined with the pristine beauty of Himalayas popping out in myriad colours of Autumn, the visual treat you get magnifies the experience by manifolds!

Text by Insha Faridoon
Pics by Faridoon Shahryar




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