A yak is a long-haired bovine native to the Himalayan region, the Tibetan Plateau, and parts of Central Asia. It is well adapted to cold, high-altitude environments and is used by local communities for transport, meat, milk, wool, and hides. Yaks are sturdy, sure-footed animals that can carry heavy loads across rough mountain terrain. Domesticated yaks are vital to the livelihoods of many mountain peoples, while wild yaks are larger and more endangered. The animal is culturally significant in Tibetan and Himalayan societies, featuring in traditions, festivals, and daily life, and it plays an important ecological role in alpine grasslands.