Wild yak

Wild yak

　　Wild yak

　　Wild yaks, known in Tibetan as "Zhong," are the most iconic animals of the Tibetan Plateau. They are tall and robust, with bodies reaching up to 3 meters in length and weighing three times as much as domestic yaks. Their entire bodies are covered with long, thick black fur that hangs down to the ground, helping them lie on snow for warmth. With fur 2.4 times thicker than that of domestic yaks, they can live normally even at minus 40°C. Wild yaks also prefer to live in groups, typically consisting of 30 or more, sometimes reaching over 300. People often see dark masses of wild yaks moving together in search of food. Though fierce in nature, they still recognize their domesticated relatives—the domestic yaks. Tibetan herders often retrieve lost domestic yaks from wild yak herds, and wild yaks sometimes even join domestic herds. The first-generation calves born from the mating of domestic and wild yaks are called "Zhongcha" in Tibetan. These calves are strong, grow quickly, but are also rather fierce in temperament.