Yak (Bos grunniens)
Wearing a thick fur coat, yaks don't yammer about the cold.
One yak yields almost six pounds of fine fiber and hair each year.
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU)
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Global Home:
Asia and Australia
Asia and Australia
- Primary Habitat:
Rocky Areas
Rocky Areas
Mountains
Standing with S-shaped horns, yaks stick to the herd. Huddling in the Himalayas or other high places, these cattle relatives stay close to keep warm. Another way they hold heat is found when they try to cool their bodies down. When yaks sweat, they secrete something sticky that keeps their hair matted down, giving them more insulation. Although the females are much smaller than the males, yaks can weigh over one ton and reach lengths of over ten feet. As domesticated animals, yaks are useful in transporting goods and as food, with milk and meat at the top of the list.
