Facts and Features Asian Mountain Yak

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genre: Bos
Scientific name: Bos grunniens
Type: Mammal
Diet: herbivore
Size: 2-2.2m (6,5-7.2 ft)
Weight: 300-1,000 kg (661 to 2.200 pounds)
Maximum speed: 40 kmh (25 mph)
Average Life Period: 15-20 years
Lifestyle: Herd
Preservation Status: Threatened
Color: Brown, Black, White
Skin Type: Hairy
Favourite Diet: Grass
Habitat: Alpine meadows and hills open
Average Litter Size: 1
Main Prey: Grass, Grasses, Mosses
Attackers:Human, bears, wolves
Special Features: thick,hairy and big horns

The yak is mainly found in the mountainous regions of Central Asia.The yak tend to gather in herds of yaks around 10-100 , most of them are women.There are only a few male yaks per herd.Although there is a large population of yak , there are only a few wild yak remaining.The yak is still used in many parts of Central Asia to pull heavy farm machinery and transport of heavy loads through the mountain.

The average male yak can grow to about 2 meters high, with female yak is approximately one third the size of the male yak .Yak consists of very long hair to keep warm .

The yak belongs to the cow family as the Asian water buffalo , African buffalo and the American bison .However, the yak is a bit more like the American bison in appearance as both the yak and bison have long hair in order to withstand the coldest climates.

In the warmer months of September yak breeds and after a gestation period of around nine months the female gives birth to a single yak calf. A female yak occasionally gives birth to twins, but is very rare. Some female gives birth to a calf almost every year , but it depends on the individual and the environment in which they habitat.Babies are completely independent at the time they are a year old and fully grown when they are between 7 and 8 years.The average life period of a yak is about 20 years in the wild and a little more when in captivity.

Like other species of cow, the yak is a herbivore and spends much time in grazing on grasses, herbs and wildflowers of the mountains.Similar to other species of the cow ,yak has more than one stomach which is used to get all the nutrients from the plants they eat.

The yak has firm , dense  horns used to break through the snow in order to obtain plants that are buried under it and also use their horns to protect itself.They have much hair covering their bodies that keep them warm and dry.