The yak is a large, long-haired bovine that has evolved to survive in high-altitude environments. This animal, belonging to the genus Bos alongside cattle and bison, is adapted to the thin air and cold of high-altitude plateaus. There is a clear distinction in distribution between the wild yak (Bos mutus) and the domesticated yak (Bos grunniens). The wild yak is restricted to a shrinking native range, while the domesticated yak is spread across a far wider area.
The Native Range of Wild Yaks
The wild yak (Bos mutus) is found exclusively in the high-altitude regions of the Tibetan Plateau, spanning China and parts of India and Nepal. This native habitat consists of treeless uplands and alpine tundra, existing at elevations generally ranging from 3,000 to 5,500 meters (9,800 to 18,000 feet) above sea level. The largest remaining populations are concentrated in northern Tibet and the western area of Qinghai Province.
The climate in this environment is harsh, with winter temperatures often dropping below -40°C. Wild yaks thrive in these conditions, though their distribution is now fragmented and smaller than it was historically. Small, isolated groups are found in the Ladakh region of India and have been rediscovered in northern Nepal.
The wild species is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Threats to their survival include poaching, disease transmission from domestic livestock, and competition with managed herds for grazing land. The total global population of mature wild yaks is estimated to be no more than 15,000 individuals.
Global Distribution of Domesticated Yaks
The domesticated yak (Bos grunniens) has a far broader distribution, extending beyond the core habitat of its wild ancestor. The primary concentration of the world’s estimated 14 million domestic yaks is the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the greater Himalayan region. This area includes China, where over 90% of the population resides, as well as Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
In these Central Asian nations, yaks are an economic backbone for nomadic and herding communities. They are raised for their meat, milk, fiber, and hides, and are used as pack animals for transport across mountain passes. Their dried dung is often the only available fuel source on the treeless plateau.
The distribution has expanded to non-traditional regions outside of Asia, though in much smaller numbers. Herds can be found in North America (the United States and Canada) and parts of Europe. These non-native herds are typically kept for specialty farming purposes, such as lean meat production, wool harvesting, or as novelty livestock.
Adaptations for High-Altitude Living
The yak’s unique geographical range is possible because its body has developed specific traits to cope with high-altitude life. One adaptation involves its respiratory and circulatory systems, which maximize oxygen uptake from the thin air. Yaks possess larger lungs and a larger heart relative to their body size compared to low-altitude cattle.
Yak blood is highly efficient at transporting oxygen due to a high concentration of hemoglobin and a greater number of red blood cells. This physiological trait is essential for surviving where atmospheric oxygen pressure is reduced. The animals also possess a dense, two-layered coat consisting of a thick, woolly undercoat and long, shaggy outer hair.
This heavy insulation helps them conserve body heat in freezing temperatures. Yaks also lack functional sweat glands across most of their skin, which prevents heat loss through perspiration. This contributes to their extreme cold tolerance but means they struggle to survive at lower altitudes or in warmer climates, generally suffering heat exhaustion above 15°C.