A short distance up the road to the telecom tower is a trail leading to a large fenced area that was originally established as a minizoo. Some years ago the king decided that such a facility was not in keeping with Bhutan's environmental and religious convictions, and it was disbanded. The animals were released into the wild, but the takins, Bhutan's national animal, were so tame that they wandered around the streets of Thimphu looking for food, and the only solution was to put them back into captivity. It's worthwhile taking the time to see these oddball mammals, which look a bit like a cross between a gnu and a bison. The best time to see them is early morning when they gather near the fence to feed. There are also a few barking deer around.