Yaks are native to the Himalayan mountains of Tibet, Nepal and the surrounding countries. They were first domesticated by the Tibetan people thousands of years ago. Yaks provide the people of the Himalayan region with wool, leather, meat, milk and cheese. It is also a beast of burden used for packing as well as riding. Its dung is used as fuel. Yaks are long haired, horned animals. They have a massive low slung body, buffalo like shoulder hump, horse like tail and long hairy skirts hanging almost to the ground. They have thick undercoats that insulate them from the cold. Yak are sure footed and excellent climbers. They do not "moo" but make a low grunting sound. Adult cows weigh between 500 to 700 pounds. The adult bulls average 1200 to 1500 pounds. They have a life span of about 20 years in captivity.

Yaks are herbivores (plant eaters) that graze on grasses, but also browse on the leaves of low-lying shrubs. Like cows they swallow their food without chewing it and later regurgitate the food called cud. Yaks like other ruminants, have a four-part stomach.

The wild yak (bos mutus) is classified as endangered.
Although officially protected in China, uncontrolled hunting has caused populations to decline drastically.

Order: Artiodactyla
Class: Mammalia
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Bos
Species: Grunniens
Common name: Yak-the grunting ox

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