Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Domestication of Yak
Source: DTE
Context: The oldest evidence of yak domestication by humans has been discovered in Bangga, a settlement in the Shannan prefecture of the Tibetan Autonomous Region in China, near the Brahmaputra River and the Indian border.
- The study reveals that around 2,500 years ago, residents of Bangga not only domesticated yaks but also taurine cattle, a variety distinct from Indian Zebu breeds.
- The researchers found evidence of hybrid offspring produced by crossing yaks and cattle.
- Genetic analysis of bones indicated the presence of male yaks and female taurine cattle.
- The surprising proximity of taurine cattle to the Indian subcontinent suggests they may have reached central and eastern Tibet via the Silk Route.
