Range

Asia is the native home of the yak. Wild populations are found throughout Tibet, China, and India. In the past they were found in Nepal and Bhutan but they are now extinct in these areas.

Habitat

Yaks make their homes in treeless areas which are on mountains and plateaus. A lot of the time they live in alpine meadows.

Reproduction

Mating takes place between July and September when it is warmest in these areas.

As the breeding season approaches males begin to fight to see who will be dominant. They will bellow and scrape the ground with their horns as well as charging each other with their horns. They scent mark with urine and dung and wallow in dry soil. Females are able to mate up to four times over the mating period but only for a few hours at each chance.

After nine months a single calf is born. A secluded spot is found for the birth. After 10 minutes the calf is walking and can join the herd. It takes one year for the calf to wean and become independent. They begin life brown in colour and this fur slowly darkens to match that of the adults.

At around 3-4 years of age females are sexually mature. They will give birth every second year unless food is plentiful in which case they may breed yearly.

Behavior

Predators of the yak included Tibetan wolves, brown bears and snow leopards. The last two are more likely to take young and sick individuals.

Yaks live in herds of several hundred individuals. These are formed mostly of females and young with the occasional male. Most males live in bachelor herds or are solitary.

The only vocalisation made by the yak is a grunt. They do not moo like other cows.

Quick facts

Yaks are part of the same family as bison and domestic cattle.

The yaks scientific names translate to grunting bull (bos grunniens) and silent bull (bos mutus).

In Asia yak racing is a sport as is yak skiing and yak polo.

Yaks are used in Asia for transport and the production of meat, wool and milk.