Yak
Bos grunniens
Quick answer
The yak is a large, long-haired ox adapted to the cold, thin air of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. Domestic yaks are vital pack animals that provide milk, meat, and wool, while the larger wild yak is listed as Vulnerable. Yaks thrive above 4,000 m (13,000 ft) and live around 20 years.
Yak facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Bos grunniens (domestic), Bos mutus (wild) |
|---|---|
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Habitat | High mountain plateau and alpine tundra |
| Lifespan | About 20 years |
| Weight | 300–1,000 kg (660–2,200 lb) |
| Top speed | Around 40 km/h (25 mph) |
| Conservation status | Wild yak: Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Bovidae |
| Genus | Bos |
Where it lives
High mountains and plateaus of Central Asia, especially the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau.
What is a group of yaks called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Yaks is called a herd.
Baby name
A baby Yak is called a calf.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Built for thin, freezing air
Yaks are superbly adapted to high altitude. A dense, shaggy coat and a thick undercoat keep out cold that would kill most cattle, while large lungs and oxygen-rich blood let them work in air too thin for lowland animals. They are most comfortable in the cold and can overheat at low elevations.
The mountain workhorse
For the peoples of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, the domestic yak is indispensable. It carries loads across high passes, plows fields, and provides milk, butter, meat, wool, and even dung for fuel. Yaks grunt rather than moo, which gives the wild species its name, Bos mutus, the 'mute ox.'
Wild yaks
Wild yaks are much larger and darker than their domestic cousins, with bulls standing around 2 m (6.5 ft) at the shoulder. They roam remote, treeless uplands in herds and are far more formidable, capable of defending themselves against wolves.
Conservation
While domestic yaks number in the millions, the wild yak is listed as Vulnerable, reduced by hunting and by competition and interbreeding with domestic herds. Remote protected areas on the Tibetan Plateau are key to the wild yak's future.
Frequently asked questions about the Yak
Where do yaks live?
Yaks live on the high mountains and plateaus of Central Asia, especially the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau, often above 4,000 m (13,000 ft).
What are yaks used for?
Domestic yaks are used as pack and plow animals and provide milk, butter, meat, wool, and dung for fuel, making them central to life in the high mountains.
Are yaks endangered?
Domestic yaks are abundant, but the larger wild yak is listed as Vulnerable due to hunting and competition with domestic herds.
How do yaks survive high altitude?
Yaks have large lungs, oxygen-rich blood, and a thick shaggy coat, letting them work and stay warm in cold, thin mountain air where other cattle cannot.
Do yaks moo?
Yaks grunt rather than moo, which is why the wild yak's scientific name, Bos mutus, means the 'mute ox.'
What is a group of yaks called?
A group of Yaks is called a herd.
What is a baby yak called?
A baby Yak is called a calf.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Yak:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Vulnerable) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Bos grunniens.
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Global Animal Guide editorial standards
How we research, source, review, and update every guide for accuracy.
