Wild Yak ( UPSC Prelims)

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News Context

Specialists from four ICAR institutions have successfully assembled the first-ever chromosome-level genome of the Indian/Domestic Yak (Bos grunniens), which is a descendant of the Wild Yak (Bos mutus).

About Wild Yak (Bos Mutus)

Habitat: Found in alpine tundra, grasslands, and cold desert regions on the northern Tibetan plateau, with mountainous areas at elevations between 4,000 to 6,100 meters.
 Regional Occurrence: Native to China and India, but regionally extinct in Bhutan.
 Key Characteristics: They migrate seasonally, moving to lower valleys during the winter.
      ○ Primarily consume grasses and sedges, with some forbs.
  ● Yaks are gregarious, often forming groups of over 100 individuals, though smaller groups of 10-20 are also typical.  
 Major Threats: Poaching, including commercial poaching for meat, and interbreeding between domestic and wild yaks.

About Indian/Domestic Yak (Bos grunniens)

• Referred to as the ‘ship of the Himalayas’, it aids high-altitude communities by providing meat, milk, and transport.
 • Habitat: Located throughout the Himalayan region, Tibetan Plateau, Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan, and extending to Mongolia and Siberia.
 • Characteristics: Possess larger lungs and heart compared to cattle; Herbivorous.