Context: A joint team of scientists from ICAR’s National Research Centre on Yak (NRC-Y) and Assam Don Bosco University has developed an Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart collar system for high-altitude Himalayan yaks.
About The Himalayan Yak:
What It Is?
- The Domestic Yak (Bos grunniens), famously called the ‘Ship of the Himalayas’, is a long-haired, heavily built bovine species uniquely adapted to survive in sub-zero alpine conditions. It is a vital multi-purpose resource for mountain dwellers, providing milk, meat, fiber, fuel, and heavy-load transportation.
Habitat and Distribution:
- Extreme Elevation Range: Strictly thrives in low-temperature, high-altitude alpine zones above 8,000 feet (reaching up to 18,000 feet) across the trans-Himalayan landscapes.
- Indian Population Grid: India is home to approximately 58,000 yaks (as per the 20th Livestock Census). Nearly half of the total population is concentrated in Ladakh, with the remaining herds distributed across the rugged high-altitude belts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU)
Key Characteristics:
- Physical and Anatomical Features:
- Dual-Layer Insulation: Yaks possess a thick outer coat of long guard hairs and a dense woolly undercoat that traps heat, enabling them to survive freezing temperatures as low as –40°C in high-altitude regions.
- Natural Weatherproofing: Their coat secretes natural oils that repel moisture, keeping the skin dry during snowfall, rain, and blizzards while reducing heat loss in harsh mountain climates.
- Sure-Footed Hooves: Broad, split, and sturdy hooves provide excellent grip on rocky slopes, icy terrain, and deep snow, allowing yaks to move safely across steep Himalayan landscapes.
- Physiological and Cardio-Respiratory Profiles
- High-Altitude Internal Architecture: Yaks have an enlarged chest cavity with a bigger heart and lungs, enabling efficient breathing and circulation in the oxygen-deficient environment of high mountains.
- Advanced Oxygen Transport: Their blood contains a high concentration of large red blood cells and specialized haemoglobin, allowing efficient oxygen absorption and delivery in thin mountain air.
- Heat Sensitivity: Adapted to cold climates, yaks experience severe heat stress when temperatures exceed 15°C, restricting them to cold, high-altitude habitats.
- Social and Behavioral Traits
- Matriarchal Herding: Yaks usually live in matriarchal herds led by experienced females, while adult bulls remain solitary or form small bachelor groups outside the breeding season.
- Shy but Protective Tendencies: Although generally calm around humans, yaks become fiercely defensive when threatened, often forming a protective circle around calves against predators such as snow leopards.
Significance:
- Yaks are central to the livelihoods of Himalayan community providing milk, and transport where farming is difficult due to harsh climatic conditions.
- Their strength and sure-footed nature make yaks indispensable for transporting supplies across inaccessible Himalayan passes.
