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Yak

Bos grunniens

Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

This ox-like animal with shaggy coat and impressive horns is the beast of burden in the high-altitude Himalayan Ladakh region of India. This individual has a black coat but a white tail with the fur on the spine being black and white.

It is different from the all-black individuals and the golden-brown calf I have spotted in this region.

Habitat:

High altitue mountainside of the Ladakh region.

Notes:

May be black is the summer coat and white, the winter? Tails are used as ceremonial fly-whisks. Some local Hotels/houses sport one high up on a pole under colourful banners.

Reference Links:

Yak

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)
SukanyaDatta
Ava T-B My grandmother used to have a white Yak tail fly whisk and as a child I had thought yaks were all white. Till I saw the black ones used to give rides to tourists near Simla...and this Ladakh trip of course was an eye-opener for me as far as Yak colouration is concerned.I have seen pure black, black and white and a goldeny- brown yaks on this short trip of mine...hav eput up the spottings too.
Ava T-B
What a beauty! I guess I've never seen a picture of a yak before; I had no idea that had that lovely stripe down their backs.

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National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Mission
2015 Best Wildlife Photo

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Photographed
PublishedJune 19, 2014

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