The reason why Bhutan selected Takin as National Animal is that it is associated with Bhutan Religion and Mythology. It was during the time of the Lama Drukpa Kuenly (1455 – 1529), the Divine Madman and Bhutans favorite saint, known for his outrageous antics. One day, his devotees were gathered to witness his magical power and they asked him to perform a miracle. However, the saint, in his usual unorthodox and outrageous way, demanded that he first be served a whole cow and a goat for lunch. Having devoured both and leaving only the bones, he stuck the goat head on the bones of the cow.

To everyone's amazement, upon a command uttered by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the animal came to life , arose and ran to the meadow and then began to graze. The animal came to be known as "Dong Gyem Tsey" and can still be seen grazing in the mountain meadows of the Kingdom. Due to it’s uniqueness, the Takin continues to befuddle taxonomists. Unable to relate it to any other animal, they have put it in a category by itself Budorcas Taxicolor.