YAK Bos grunniens

Redlist status: Wild Yaks - Vulnerable

Redlist status: Domesticated - Not evaluated

• Yak inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, China, and are found as far north as Mongolia.

• Males weigh 350 to 585 kg and stand 111–138 cm at the shoulders.  Females range 225 to 255 kg and are 105–117 cm at the shoulders.

• Yaks have small ears, wide foreheads, a small neck and a pronounced bump at its shoulder. Its smooth horns sweep out from the sides of the head, and then curve backward.  Horns can grow from 48 to 99 cm in length.

• Yaks are well adapted to high altitudes, with large lungs and hearts and a greater capacity for transporting oxygen through its system.

• The yak is well adapted to the harsh mountains with its thick coat and ability to move skillfully over rough terrain. Yaks can easily tolerate temperatures of -40 below celsius.

• The yak has been domesticated for over 2,500 years. Domestic yaks are used to pull loads and plough fields, and are combed for their fur, which is spun and woven into various fiber products. The domestic yak is very vocal, making frequent grunts.

• Yaks are grazing herbivores.

• Yaks mate in the summer, typically between July and September, Gestation lasts between 257 and 270 days with calves born between May and June.  Single births are most common with a female giving birth every other year.

• A Yak calf is able to walk within about ten minutes of birth.