where do yaks live

Wild yaks are sometimes referred to as a separate species (Bos mutus) to differentiate them from domestic yaks, although they are freely interbred with various kinds of cattle. Yaks belong to the Bovini tribe, which also includes cattle, buffalo’s, and bison. Yaks are the healthy cattle with a bulky body, short and thick legs, small ears, and broad forehead. Did you know? Isolated populations may be found outside of this range and these herds are most at risk of extinction. These countries include Nepal and Bhutan. There are also mixed herds of wild animals with domestic animals. How large is an adult panda? Yaks are gregarious animals, and sometimes form herds of up to 200 animals, although most herds are much smaller, at about 10 – 20 individuals. Wild populations of this species do exist, but are considered vulnerable to the threat of extinction. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. in the Andes and the yak in the Himalayas, are adapted rather than acclimatized to the low oxygen partial pressures of high altitude. It is not known with certainty when yaks were domesticated, although it is likely that they were first bred as beasts of burden for the caravans of Himalayan trade routes. Yaks are kept primarily for their meat, milk, fiber, and as beasts of burden (transporting goods or pulling plows for local farmers and traders, and climbing and trekking expeditions). Answer to: Do yaks live in the Himalayas? Where do Yak Live? Their droppings are also used as fuel. The red list of IUCN states it as a vulnerable species. They can live at altitudes of up to 18,000 ft (5,400 m), and can easily tolerate temperatures of -40° F (-40° C). Prior to mating there is a period, called the “rut,” when the males become highly competitive with each other. Homemakers are basically pack animals, in addition, they give milk and wool, they are almost half less than wild ones, but not always. They thrive in alpine meadows that feature a thick covering of grasses. Both have a short neck with a distinct hump over the shoulders, which is more visible in the male yak. Resistance to cold. It comes as no surprise then that most wild Yaks live in the most mountainous regions of countries such as Tibet, Mongolia and China. Yak, (Bos grunniens), long-haired, short-legged oxlike mammal that was probably domesticated in Tibet but has been introduced wherever there are people at elevations of 4,000–6,000 metres (14,000–20,000 feet), mainly in China but also in Central Asia, Mongolia, and Nepal. It comes as no surprise then that most wild Yaks live in the most mountainous regions of countries such as Tibet, Mongolia and China. Where Do Yaks Live: The wild Yaks are found in the Himalaya region of south-central Asia. The ability of the yak to live in conditions in which other bovines will not survive, or, at least, not thrive, suggests that the yak has developed specially adapted characteristics. The calves are detached at about one year of age. There are only a few male yaks per herd. Yaks live in Tibet, India and China, where they live in the same way, both in a wild state and in domesticated. Yaks have a long history of populating the most mountainous areas of southern central Asia. During snowstorms, the yaks protect themselves by cuddling together, keeping the young ones in between. Both males and females have horns; in males, the horns sweep out from the sides of the head, and then curve forward, whereas the horns of females are smaller and more upright in shape. Pregnancy (gestation) lasts between 257 and 270 days (about 8 1/2 months), and the female usually gives birth to a single calf, which can walk within 10 minutes of being born. Male yaks are solitary, although sometimes they travel with the herd. In contrast to…, …bears, lesser pandas, and Tibetan yaks have limited populations. The zoo of china is the only in the world that has a wild yak. When the conditions are cold, for example at night and in snowstorms, yaks protect themselves from the cold by huddling together, and positioning the calves in the center, where it is warmer. Wild yaks live in alpine meadows and steppes in Asia. Yaks are the only mammals that live at the highest altitude. Copyright © 2017. Yaks seasonally aggregate into larger groups. Yaks typically mate between July and September. Most adult males are solitary or live in smaller herds of about six yaks. 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. Their dense fur and few sweat glands make life below 3,000 metres difficult, even in winter. Answers to life's questions, Why are Whale Sharks an Endangered Species, How Many Countries Make up the Commonwealth. Of the sense organs, yaks are best developed sense of smell, and hearing and vision are much weaker. Wild yaks are sometimes Yaks Cafe is a Utah restaurant garnering national attention after its anti-mask policy went viral on social media. Domestic male yak can weigh between 772 to 1290 pounds, whereas the females can weigh to 496 to 562 pounds. More distantly related are the American and European bison. By the way, all yaks are male. The mother breeds again in the fall after the calf has been weaned. There are two different species of yaks- wild yaks and domestic yaks. Yaks have relatively small ears, and a broad forehead. Moreover, while it is true to suggest that Yak are widely seen as wild animals, many are domesticated and used as a form of cattle. By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. Yaks are large, long haired cattle, usually with medium length horns. Yaks obtain water by eating snow when necessary. Wild yaks form herds of about ten to thirty animals, although herds that contain several hundred animals have been known. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Yaks are primarily found throughout the Himalaya region of southern Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau, and as far north as Russia and Mongolia. From the Himalayas to the Tibetan Plateau and from Mongolia to Russia, the unique Yak have managed to survive the most difficult of terrains for centuries. The most common habitat of wild yaks is the highlands between 3,000 to 5,500 m (9,800 to 18,000 ft) on mountains and plateaus. What does a yak eat? All photos used are royalty-free, and credits are included in the Alt tag of each image. Like bison (genus Bison), the head droops before high massive shoulders; horns are 80 cm (30 inches) long in the males, 50 cm in females. In the family Bovidae, the yak belongs to the same genus as cattle as well as the banteng, gaur, and kouprey of Southeast Asia. Due to their unique physiology of having extra large lungs and hearts than their cattle cousins, Yaks are naturally better suited to existing at higher altitudes. The dung of a yak is used as fuel, and the only fuel available in the Tibetan plateau where there are no trees. Their diet consists mainly of grasses, herbs, wild flowers, mosses, tubers, and lichens. Vocalizations – Domestic yaks do not “moo” – they only grunt. Yaks have firm, dense horns which they use to break through snow in order to get the plants that are buried underneath. Progeny of puberty reaches 6-8 years. Above the tree line the most numerous animals, however, are diverse types of insects, spiders, and mites, which are the only animal forms that can live…. It comes as no surprise then that most wild Yaks live in the most mountainous regions of countries such as Tibet, Mongolia and China. Domesticated yaks can be found throughout the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau in Central Asia through to Mongolia and Russia in the north. The common Threat to the wild yak is a market and casual hunt; another threat to the wild yak is crossbreeding with the domesticated yaks. Omissions? There are two different species of yak – the domestic yak (Bos grunniens), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Their most distinctive feature is an extremely dense, shaggy long coat that, in some individuals, hangs down to the ground. They have also been domesticated for thousands of years, so humans use them for a wide variety of purposes. In China, where they are known as “hairy cattle,” yaks are heavily fringed with long black hair over a shorter blackish or brown undercoat that can keep them warm to –40 °C (−40 °F). In the wild, they live in mixed herds of about 25, though some males live in bachelor groups or alone. They are mostly located in Tibet and the Chinese province of Qinghai. The average weight of a wild yak is between 660 to 2200 pounds; however, females are about one-third of that of a male. Both sexes have a distinctive hump over their shoulders. Where do yaks live? Similar to other cow species, the yak has more than one stomach which it uses to successfully get all the nutrients out of the plants it eats. Where do yaks live? Yaks are well suited for colder regions but cannot tolerate the heat below -40 degrees Celsius. Wild yaks are solid black with rust-brown patches. Yaks are best known for their large size (although wild yaks are generally larger than the domesticated yaks), long fur and distinctive horns. They are raised for their meat, milk and fiber and make very good working animals. Bos and Bison diverged from water buffalo (genus Bubalus) and other wild bovines about three million years ago. Small numbers survive in northern Tibet and the Ladakh steppe of India, but they are not effectively protected. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. I hope you find an answer to your question, but if your don't then please send me your question via email, comment or via Google+ and I'll try and answer it. The horns of a female domestic yak are smaller than that of a male domestic yak. Domestic yaks do not produce the typical sound “moo” like other cattle’s they only snort. 17 interesting and fun facts about elephant seals. Animals have dark brown wool, exceptionally long, sometimes reaching the ground, which perfectly protects them from the colds characteristic of high-altitude areas. The population of the domestic yak is around 12 million in the central Asian mountains. All Rights Reserved by wanttoknowit.com. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. When it gets too warm, they retreat to higher plateaus to eat mosses and lichens, which they rasp off rocks with their rough tongues. Yaks are robust cattle with a bulky frame, short but thick legs, and rounded cloven hooves that are splayed to help them walk in snow. The yak tend to gather in herds from 10 yaks to 100 yaks, most of which are female. The herds of yaks comprise of 10-20 individuals that involve only female and young yaks. Wild yaks are generally dark, blackish to brown in color, whereas domestic yaks are more variable in color, and may have patches of cream and rusty brown, sometimes making them piebald. This gives them their Latin name “Bos grunniens” which translates as “grunting ox” Habitat of the Yak. The length of these species ranges from 19 to 39 inches. In nature, animals live alone or in small herds, at altitudes up to 6 thousand meters above sea level. The horns of a male wild yak average to 16.8 inches, whereas the length in females ranges to 12.7 inches. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

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