Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE IMPORTANCE OF YAKS
Only 50 years ago an estimated one million wild yaks roamed the Tibetan plateau. Now it
is a rare treat to catch a glimpse of one of these huge creatures, which weigh up to a
tonne and can reach 1.8m at the shoulder. Wild yaks have diminished in number to
15,000 as a result of the increased demand for yak meat and a rise in illegal hunting.
Few, if any, of the yaks that travellers see are drong(wild yaks). In fact, most are not
even yaks at all but rather dzo,a cross between a yak and a cow. A domestic yak rarely
exceeds 1.5m in height. Unlike its wild relative, which is almost always black, the dzo var-
ies in shade from black to grey and, primarily around Kokonor in Qīnghǎi, white.
With three times more red blood cells than the average cow, the yak thrives in the
oxygen-depleted high altitudes. Its curious lung formation, surrounded by 14 or 15 pairs
of ribs rather than the 13 typical of cattle, allows a large capacity for inhaling and expelling
air (one reason why its Latin name Bos grunniensmeans 'grunting ox'). In fact, a descent
below 3000m may impair the reproductive cycle and expose the yak to parasites and dis-
ease.
Tibetans rely on yak milk for cheese, as well as for butter for the ubiquitous butter tea
and offerings to butter lamps in monasteries. The outer hair of the yak is woven into tent
fabric and rope, and the soft inner wool is spun into chara(a type of felt) and used to
make bags, blankets and tents. Tails are used in both Buddhist and Hindu religious prac-
tices. Yak hide is used for the soles of boots and the yak's heart is used in Tibetan medi-
cine. In the nomadic tradition, no part of the animal is wasted and even yak dung is re-
quired as a fundamental fuel, left to dry in little cakes on the walls of most Tibetan
houses. In fact, so important are yaks to the Tibetans that the animals are individually
named, like children.
The mythical
sengye,
or snow lion, is one of Tibet's four sacred animals and acts as a
mount for many Tibetan protector deities. The other three animals are the garuda (
khy-
ung),
dragon
(druk)
and tiger
(dak)
.
On the Brink
About 80 species of animal that are threatened with extinction have been listed as protec-
ted by the Chinese government. These include the almost-mythical snow leopard
(gang-
zig)
as well as the wild yak
(drong)
.
