House Yak | Bos mutus f. grunniens

They are able to swim through fast-flowing waters, are sure-footed and even pass through swamp terrain. A yak bull may reach a head-hull length of 3.25 meters and a weight of up to 750 kilograms. The cows are much smaller and weigh only up to 350 kilograms. Yaks are ruminants. Striking are their very movable upper lips. This allows them to feed even in low vegetation. Yaks have small hooves that allow them to climb well. This is an adaptation to their habitat in the mountains. They can vary their respiratory rate depending on the outside temperature: at higher temperatures you can see them breathe quickly to dissipate excess heat. From 20 degrees, yaks like to stay near water. They no longer eat, but remain motionless in one place. When the outside temperature is low, the respiratory rate drops and they lose very little heat. Yaks are social animals that stay closely together. This way they are able to defend the entire herd against approaching enemies. Bulls join the herd only in the breeding season. For this reason, there is only one sexually mature bull in the herd in Serengeti Park. Cows are usually rutting only 16 to 56 hours.