Arya News - The pair consists of Sonam, a 16-month-old male born in March 2024, and Rinchen Lhamo, an 11-nonth-old female born in August 2024. Both animals will be translocated to Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand.
THIMPHU – As a royal gift from His Majesty The King of Bhutan, a pair of takins (one female and one male) are being gifted to Their Majesties The King and Queen of Thailand. The translocation of the two takins from Bhutan to Thailand is expected around January 2026, pending royal approval, according to the Acting Chairman of the Board of the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand, Jade Donavanik.
Jade Donavanik said they will have to get royal permission from Their Majesties The King and Queen of Thailand, and perhaps also from Their Majesties The King and Queen of Bhutan, and that the royal decision will be made. “But as far as we have gathered information, it might be around January of 2026.”
The pair consists of Sonam, a 16-month-old male born in March 2024, and Rinchen Lhamo, an 11-month-old female born in August 2024. Both animals will be translocated to Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand.
In Bhutanese culture, the takin’s origin is linked to a 15th-century legend involving Lam Drukpa Kunley, known as “the Divine Madman.” According to the tale, when villagers asked the revered saint to perform a miracle, he requested a cow and a goat to eat. After consuming the meat, leaving only the bones, he attached the goat’s head to the cow’s skeleton.
With a snap of his fingers, the creature sprang to life and began grazing in the meadows. Drukpa Kunley named this miraculous animal “Dong Gyem Tsey,” or takin.
Fifteen Thai delegates from various government departments including national parks, wildlife and plant conservation, the zoological park organization, livestock development, and diplomatic affairs, recently completed a comprehensive five-day field course in Bhutan focused on takin conservation management.
The programme included visits to Bhutan’s protected areas, the Royal Takin Preserve, and Jigme Dorji National Park in Tamji, Gasa. Delegates also participated in practical training sessions covering safe capture techniques, health management, chemical immobilization, and hoof-trimming procedures.
Jade Donavanik said that during their five-day field course, they had observed the takin’s natural habitat, learning about their unique behaviours, spiritual significance in Bhutanese culture, and connection to the Divine Madman. “This gift symbolises the strong bond and shared history between the two kingdoms.”
Regarding translocation, he explained that the takins will be transported by a Thai Air Force C-130 plane. They will be accustomed to cages, sedated for transport, and then revived, possibly with blindfolds to minimise excitement. Upon arrival, they will be housed in a zoo environment in Chiang Mai.
The Royal Thai Air Force will conduct a simulation of the takin transport from Bhutan.
He said that acclimatising the takins to Thailand’s warmer climate will be a key challenge. The transport will be timed for Thailand’s winter and directed to the cooler northern region. “While full acclimatisation isn’t possible immediately, plans include a cooling system, an air-conditioned room for summer, and potentially a snowing system to create a more suitable environment.”
The zoo aims to create a natural-like habitat with waterfalls and enrichment activities to ensure their well-being, he said.
The Ambassador of the Royal Bhutan Embassy in Thailand and Deputy Chairman of the Royal Privy Council of Bhutan, Kesang Wangdi, spoke about the gesture’s importance, comparing Thailand’s king to the legendary King Ashoka and expressing deep appreciation for the royal relics previously received from Thailand.
“As a token of appreciation, Bhutan is sending two takins, its national animal, to Thailand, symbolising deeper collaboration,” he added.
He highlighted Bhutan’s view of Thailand as a crucial link to Southeast Asia and a vital partner in the Bhutan’s future development.
Jade Donavanik hopes great public excitement in Thailand for the takins, seeing them as a symbol of the close relationship between the two royal families and kingdoms.
This, he said, will highlight the historical and spiritual stories of the takin and the brotherhood between the two kings. These will be the first Bhutanese subspecies of takins to reside outside Bhutan, said Jade.