A Yak is a long-haired, domesticated bovid species (Bos grunniens), primarily found in the Himalayan region, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.

Yak, Physical Characteristics, Biological and Geographic Features

Q: In which Indian states are Yaks commonly reared?

Yaks are mainly reared in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh (UT), and parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Q: Why are Yaks important for high-altitude economies?

Yaks are a crucial source of milk, meat, wool, and transport for pastoral communities living in cold, mountainous regions.

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Yak Latest News

Nepal observed its first-ever ‘National Yak Day’ on April 20, 2025, to honor the cultural, ecological, and economic value of the yak in the Himalayan region.

Why in the News?

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) urged stakeholders to elevate the yak to its rightful place in the sustainable development agenda, especially across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.
ICIMOD emphasised that indigenous communities like the Sherpa, Tamang, Thakali, Rai, and Limbu have historically protected and practiced yak herding, linking it with food security, cultural identity, and biodiversity conservation.

Biological and Geographic Features of Yak

Scientific Name:Wild yak: Bos mutus; Domesticated yak: Bos grunniens
Habitat: Wild yaks inhabit alpine tundra at altitudes of 5000 to 7000 meters. They thrive in environments such as alpine meadows, alpine steppes, and desert steppes.
Geographic distribution: Found throughout the Himalayan region, Tibetan plateau, Mongolia, and parts of South-Central Asia.
- In India, yaks are reared in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Physical Characteristics of Yak

Wild yaks are around 2 meters tall at the shoulder, while domesticated yaks are smaller.
They have long, shaggy hair for insulation and curved horns, with larger horns in males.
Their lung capacity is nearly three times that of cattle, with smaller red blood cells, making them highly adapted to high-altitude, low-oxygen environments.
Yaks are herbivorous, feeding on grasses and alpine plants.
Uses and Socio-Economic Importance:
- Domesticated yaks are used for milk, meat, and as pack animals, transporting goods across mountain passes.
- They are also used in climbing and trekking expeditions, capable of ascending up to 20,000 feet.
- Yaks are often crossbred with domestic cattle to produce dzo or chauri gai, which are adaptable hybrids used in agropastoralism across altitudinal gradients.
Conservation Status: Wild yaks are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, indicating the need for urgent conservation efforts to protect their habitats and genetic diversity.