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What are Yaks?

20-08-2024

11:42 AM

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1 min read
What are Yaks? Blog Image

Overview:

Around 40 Chinese yaks recently ventured into the Indian territory in the Demchok area of eastern Ladakh and are in the control of the villagers there.

About Yaks:

  • Yaks found throughout the Himalayan region of south-central Asia, the Tibetan plateau, and Mongolia are herd animals with a long, humped hair.
  • Scientific Name: Wild yaks are sometimes referred to as a separate species (Bos mutus) to differentiate them from domestic yaks (Bos grunniens), although they are freely interbred with various kinds of cattle.
  • Habitat:
    • The wild yak in habits the alpine tundra at altitudes of 5000 to 7000 m, while the domestic yak can survive in much lower altitudes. 
    • The habitat can vary, consisting of three areas with different vegetation: Alpine meadow, alpine steppe, and desert steppe. 
  • The yak-rearing states of India are Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
  • Features:
  • Wild yaks stand about two meters tall at the shoulder. Domestic yaks are about half that height.
  • Both types have long, shaggy hair to insulate them from the cold.
  • Both sexes have curved horns, with males having more massive horns than females.
  • Wild yaks can be either brown or black.Domesticatedonescan also be white.
  • Yaks’ lung capacity is about three times that of cattle, and they have more and smaller red blood cells, improving the blood’s ability to transport oxygen.
  • They are herbivorous.
  • Uses:
    • Domesticated yaks are kept primarily for their milk and meat.
    • They are also used as beasts of burden, transporting goods across mountain passes for local farmers and traders as well as in support of climbing and trekking expeditions.
    • They can negotiate steep mountain cliffs quite easily. They can climb up to 20,000 feet in altitude.
    • Wild Yaks are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ under the IUCN Red List.

Q1: What is a Cliff?

A cliff is a mass of rock that rises very high and is almost vertical, or straight up-and-down. Cliffs are very common landscape features. They can form near the ocean (sea cliffs), high in mountains, or as the walls of canyons and valleys.

Source: Chinese yaks stray onto Indian side, held by villagers in eastern Ladakh