Yak

Yak Latest News

A team of scientists has developed an Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart system to monitor the health of the high-altitude yaks and keep tabs on their movement near the international border in the Himalayas. 

About Yak

• Yaks belong to the Bovini tribe, which also includes bison, buffaloes, and cattle. 
• 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.
• 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.

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Characteristics of Yak

• This bovine animal has long been recognised for its resilience and adaptability to extreme conditions.
• It features a thick, shaggy coat. This woolly fur provides insulation against the biting cold of high altitudes. 
• They have large hearts and lungs, compact bodies, thick outer hair covering, and nonfunctional sweat glands, which help to withstand hypoxia and cold stress. 
• Diet: Yaks are herbivorous, feeding on grasses and alpine plants.

Conservation Status of Yak

• IUCN: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• WildLife Protection Act of 1972: Schedule I

Source: TH