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Unveiling the Earliest Evidence of Human Domestication of Yaks
Shannan, a prefecture located within the Tibetan Autonomous Region in China, is home to Bangga, a settlement that has recently become significant due to a groundbreaking study. This research has uncovered the earliest known evidence of human domestication of yaks.
Distinct Coexistence of Domesticated Yaks and Taurine Cattle
The unique aspect of this discovery is the documented coexistence of domesticated yaks and taurine cattle in Bangga, dating back to about 2,500 years ago. This points to a highly advanced level of animal husbandry and agricultural practices of the time. Experts were surprised to discover taurine cattle, typically found in Europe and temperate Asian regions, so close to the Indian subcontinent, which predominantly houses Zebu breeds.
The Intriguing Arrival of Taurine Cattle
The study speculates that the taurine cattle could have traveled from Anatolia (present-day Turkey) through the Silk Route and northern Tibet to reach central and eastern Tibet.
Evidence of Hybridization and Advanced Breeding Practices
Further fascinating findings include evidence of hybrids born from intentional cross-breeding between yaks and cattle, pointing to an intricate understanding of animal breeding by ancient settlers.
A Snapshot of Yak Population
Asia’s highlands are home to approximately 14 million to 15 million domestic yaks, which are also found in Indian Himalayan Border States and Union territories like Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. In contrast, wild yaks, never domesticated by humans, find their survival challenged.
Key Points about Wild Yaks
Wild yaks predominantly inhabit remote Tibetan plateau areas, particularly high-elevation alpine tundra, grasslands, and cold deserts. However, their existence has been threatened in other regions like Bhutan and Nepal, with their current habitat primarily limited to China and India.
Threats to Wild Yak Survival
Wild yaks face several threats, including habitat loss, genetic hybridization due to breeding with domestic yaks, and poaching. Human activities and livestock disturbances often force them to move to less favorable habitats, which adversely affect their populations.
Conservation Status of Wild Yaks
The status of wild yaks is marked as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red list and is included in Appendix I of CITES. They also feature under Schedule I in The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act 2022.
