- No Himalaia ocidental de Dolpo, Nepal, criação de yakues domésticos está sob pressão: poucos animais restam (ex.: apenas quatro yakues para uma moradora de 24 anos), devido a custos, mudanças climáticas, doenças e falta de mercados.
- Fechamentos na fronteira Dolpa-China, como Morimla e Kato, reduziram as pastagens de transição entre Nepal e vizinhos, obrigando herdeiros a vender animais e criar gado e cabras em vez de yakues, aumentando o risco de superpastejo.
- Yakes selvagens (Bos mutus) também sofrem, com menos de dez mil estimados na natureza; cruzamentos com yaks domésticos podem comprometer a pureza genética e a sobrevivência em alta altitude.
- Migração interna cresce: jovens deixam as áreas rurais para cidades ou exterior, reduzindo a mão de obra para manejo das pastagens e conservação.
- Especialistas sugerem medidas locais e nacionais, como criação de refúgio de habitat para yaks selvagens e manejo de pastagens para evitar cruzamento, como caminho para a conservação.
In Dolpo, a highland district in western Nepal, herder Youngdung Jhama Lama recalls a time when nagton, the domesticated yaks, moved freely across vast alpine pastures. Today, the herder says only four yaks remain in her Vijer (Tra) village.
Rising costs, climate stress, disease and scarce markets are shrinking yak herds across Nepal. Lama explains that labor and pasture limits pushed families to sell yaks, pushing some to raise cattle or goats instead.
Migration adds pressure. A 2021 census shows increasing in-migration to mountain areas but a negative net due to out-migration, depleting local labor for traditional herding.
Climate change is transforming Himalayan grazing lands. ICIMOD notes altered water cycles, drier wetlands and fires, with vegetation and soil carbon responding to these shifts.
Herding faces disease risks and delayed veterinary care, complicating insurance claims for yak deaths. Researchers caution that heat and climate patterns may boost disease exposure and alter yak welfare.
Border changes worsen access to grazing. After the Dolpa-China border crossings at Morimla and Kato closed post-pandemic, many herders paused cross-border grazing and shifted to other livestock.
Domestic markets for wool and cheese remain weak, with limited local demand and high costs to reach Kathmandu or other districts, further undermining yak profitability.
Wild yaks, fewer than 10,000 globally, face similar pressures. In Nepal, sightings in Upper Humla suggest possible persistence, though genetic and ecological separation from domesticated yaks persists.
Overgrazing risks grow as rangelands degrade. Some herders crossbreed domestic and wild yaks to obtain stronger calves, but this threatens wild yak genetics and complicates herd management.
Experts urge integrated conservation that includes local knowledge. A possible measure is a protected habitat for wild yaks to reduce crossbreeding and preserve rangeland ecosystems.
Conservation discussions emphasize local participation and national strategy, aiming to safeguard keystone species while sustaining hillside livelihoods and biodiversity.
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