All information about the yak

What does a yak look like?

Like bison and buffalo, the yak is related to cattle. Yaks have large protruding horns that can grow up to one meter long. Because of their long and thick hair all over their bodies, they are well protected from the cold. Yaks can be a number of different colors, namely brown, black, red, mottled or even white. Yaks can become quite large and heavy, a male yak can grow between 400 - 600 kg and a female 225 - 300 kg.

Wondering where the yaks live in Beekse Bergen and how they are fed? Then check out this Safari Report.

Domesticated

Much of the yak population has become domesticated. Domesticated means that an animal has been kept by humans for so long that they really can't live without it. It is actually an expensive word for tame; humans provide food and care and things like reproduction. A domesticated animal often does something for the people they belong to; for example, many cattle are used as farm animals. The yak was first used by humans about 10,000 years ago. Since then, the population of wild yaks declined, and today the domesticated yak is even considered a separate subspecies.

Yak wool

Yaks were mainly used for carrying goods when people traveled across the plains. In addition, the yaks are milked for butter, cheese and yogurt. The meat of the yak is also widely used in Asian countries and is also quite popular with tourists. The yak for Tibetans is very similar as the beef is for many Westerners. The hair of the yak used to be used to make tents and clothing. Today, the hair of the yak is still a very desirable product, from the wool is made into an awful lot of scarves, clothes, boots, bags, ropes and even wigs. This is why many yaks today, like sheep, are kept for their hair.

Where does the yak live? From the Himalayas to Tibet

Wild yaks originally come from the mountain ranges of Tibet, but since they have been domesticated they roam in many more places. For example, they can also be found in China, Nepal and even parts of Mongolia and Russia. Yaks live high in the mountains, where it can be very cold. The yak is built to withstand this cold well. They walk around in places where it can sometimes be as low as -40 degrees. Their thick fur with long hair comes in handy for this. Yaks are good climbers and have a very large lung capacity, so they can easily live with little oxygen!

What is the meaning of yak?

The word 'yak' comes from the word Yag or Gyag, this is what the yak bulls are called in Tibet. A cow of the same species is called a Dri or Nak. In addition, the yak is also called 'yak' or 'bromrund'.

What does the yak eat?

The yak mainly eats grasses, mosses and small plants. They also sometimes eat snow to get enough moisture. Often not much grows in the mountains where the yaks live, and the herds often have to move to other plains to get enough food. The (wild) Yaks are therefore real draught animals and never stay long in the same place!

Family

The domesticated yak (Bos Gruniens) is a species of cattle in the large family of cloven-hoofed animals (Bovidae). This large family is divided into subfamilies. Thus, the yak belongs to the subfamily of the bovids (Bovinae). This rather large subfamily is again divided into three branches: nilgae-like animals, kudu-like animals and cattle. The Jack belongs to the branch of cattle, which includes the five genera Bubalus, Bos, Pseurodyx, Syncerus (buffalo) and Bison (bison). Finally, the Jack belongs to the genus Bos.

• Aurochs † (Bos primigenius)

• Domestic cattle (Bos primigenius taurus)

• Zebu (Bos primigenius indicus)

• Banteng (Bos javanicus

• Domesticated banteng (Bos javanicus domesticus)

• Gaur (Bos gaurus)

• Gayal (Bos gaurus frontalis)

• Wild yak (Bos mutus)

• Domesticated yak (Bos grunniens)

• Kouprey (Bos sauveli)

Want to see the yak in real life? They have their own island in Safaripark Beekse Bergen, you can see them from the boat safari!

Reproduction and young

Cows, or female yaks, often live in herds of 6 to 20 animals; bulls, on the other hand, prefer to live alone. Sometimes bulls do run in herds but this is rare. Most bulls only add pairs to a herd once before mating season, which usually occurs in September. The bulls then fight each other for the cows. 9 months later the calves are born, this usually happens in June and a cow only gets one at a time. The calves are independent after one year and after 6 to 8 years the animals are grown. Yaks can live up to 25 years.

Is the yak endangered?

Domesticated yaks are not endangered; as many as 12 million domesticated yaks still live on the planet. The wild yaks, on the other hand, are unfortunately endangered, mainly because of land loss and because species have been taken over by humans for years. Another problem is that wild yaks also sometimes reproduce with domesticated yaks if they happen to be near each other. There are still 10,000 to 15,000 yaks living in the wild.

Conservation

Not only the wild yak, but many of the species you see in our park are endangered and struggling in their native habitats. Did you know that worldwide more than 4,000 animal species threatened with extinction are endangered? Together we can help them, with big, or small steps. Want to know how? Then click here.

What is the difference between a yak, a buffalo and a bison?

A yak, a bison and a buffalo are very similar at first. All three cattle species have horns and dark hair. Yet they are not one and the same species; they do belong to the same subfamily, the bovine species. Instead, all three belong to and different genus: Yaks to the genus Bos, buffalo to Syncerus and bison to Bison. Bison live in North America and Europe, the Buffalo species in Africa and Asia and the Yaks only in Asia. Both Buffalo and Bison can grow larger and heavier than the Yaks. The yak has a long almost horse-like tail while the bison and buffalo have shorter tails. The yak and buffalo have large horns while the bison have short ones. Members of all three species can be both wild and domesticated, so all three can be found near people. Safaripark Beekse Bergen is also home to the Cape Buffalo, the animal is part of the African Big Five. You can spot the Cape Buffalo along the car safari and the bus safari.