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Yak

Bos grunniens

Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Large bovine with a shaggy coat. Impressive set of horns. Some individuals we saw were black and white. The fluffy tail is used a fly-whisk for ceremonial/religious functions.

Habitat:

Sparse grass growing on the mountainside. This place is Northpullu near Khardungla Pass, Ladakh which is 18,000 ft plus in altitude. There is a fast moving mountain stream here.

Notes:

This peacefully grazing yak deliberately entered the montain stream to defecate!

Reference Links:

Yak

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)
SukanyaDatta
Bayucca I cannot be sure ...we saw many of these grazing with no humans neraby. The ones at a national park we passed had ID dart-like tags on their necks. I have shots of those as well. Then at Gurudwara Patthar Sahib very close to Leh town I saw Yaks scavenging from dust bins. These did not have tags but obviously they live close to human habitation. The one in these three photographs was at Northpullo a small base camp sort of place just after the 18,000 ft Khardungla Pass.
bayucca
Wild one or domesticated? Interesting spotting! https://www.flickr.com/photos/dominikhofer/4879645121/in/set-72157624875172196

Spotted for Missions

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National Geographic's Great Nature Project
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2015 Best Wildlife Photo

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Photographed
PublishedJune 16, 2014

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