Nepal’s First National Yak Day: Working together to protect the guardians of the high Himalaya

Today marks a historic and heartfelt moment for Nepal and for all those who call the mountains home. Nepal has made history as the first yak range country – or country in which yaks are found – in the Hindu Kush Himalaya to declare a national day dedicated to this magnificent species of long-haired domesticated cattle. This is a proud and timely recognition of the immense cultural, ecological, and economic value of yaks in our mountain regions.

In 27 mountain districts across Nepal, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities – particularly Sherpa, Tamang, Thakali, Rai, and Limbu – have nurtured and protected yak herding traditions for generations. These communities are the backbone of mountain agropastoralism – which combines growing crops with raising livestock – their lives deeply intertwined with the rhythms of transhumance, the seasonal movement of livestock across mountain pastures. This unique system, recently inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, is not only vital for food and livelihood security, but also for the sustainable management of fragile alpine ecosystems. 

Yak: more than a mountain animal

Yaks are a lifeline for the people of the mountains. They provide meat, milk, fibre, manure for fertiliser and draught power for agricultural tasks such as ploughing, in some of the world’s most challenging terrains. They play a vital role in the high mountain communities – not just as a source of sustenance, but as a keystone of cultural identity and socio-economic resilience. Their hybrids have enabled access to wider resource areas across altitudinal gradients, helping agropastoralists adapt to their mountain environments. The ‘folk taxonomy’ – or the way people name and organise these generational hybrids is a fascinating expression of deep Indigenous knowledge – scientific, spiritual, and cultural all at once.

In many respects, the yak is an iconic animal and can be described as both the ecological and cultural architect of the Himalaya. Yak herding is deeply embedded in the traditions, festivals, and spiritual practices of Himalayan communities. Conserving yak is not only about protecting an animal – it is about safeguarding mountain livelihoods, Indigenous knowledge, and fragile ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).

However, yak herding livelihoods are increasingly under pressure.

Climate change, shifting socio-economic patterns, and increasing restrictions on traditional mobility have placed immense pressure on yak herding systems. Rangelands are degrading. Genetic erosion is on the rise due to reduced cross-border exchange. And yet, the solutions are within reach – if we act together.

ICIMOD’s commitment to yak and rangeland resilience

At ICIMOD, we are proud to support the revitalisation of yak-based agropastoralism. Our work includes:

• Formation of the Nepal Yak Chauri Farmers’ Federation, a national platform uniting district yak networks to amplify herder voices. We have established a similar federation in Bhutan and are planning new federations in Pakistan and India, building a regional network of yak herders across the HKH.
• Supporting national partners to develop evidence-based policies and institutions for managing these lands to provide multiple benefits – livelihoods, carbon sequestration, water provisioning, biodiversity, and cultural tourism.
• Conducting dietary research to understand the nutritional needs and improve productivity of yaks in Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Addressing the seasonal feed scarcity, piloting winter fodder development initiatives to improve year-round nutrition for yaks.
• Mapping grazing areas and understanding pastoral mobility patterns, which are crucial for sustainable rangeland management and climate resilience.
• Piloting rangeland restoration activities to enhance pasture quality, support biodiversity, and secure the long-term viability of yak herding systems.

On this first National Yak Day, I call on all of us – policymakers, researchers, development partners, and mountain advocates to celebrate, support, and sustain yak herding in the HKH. Let us listen to the voices of herders, invest in their knowledge, restore their rangelands, and ensure that future generations continue to witness the majestic silhouette of a yak on a mountain ridge. ICIMOD stands committed to supporting our partner countries in promoting sustainable, climate-resilient agropastoralism in the high mountains of the HKH.

Nepal has shown the way by dedicating a day to honour the yak. Let this be the beginning of a regional movement to recognise and protect the high-altitude heritage of the HKH. 

Let Nepal’s leadership in declaring this National Yak Day inspire the region. It is time to elevate the yak – a symbol of resilience, heritage, and harmony with nature – to its rightful place on the sustainable development agenda.

Let us not relegate the existence of this majestic animal and the beautiful landscape it occupies to photographs and paintings for future generations of the Himalayan communities. 

Happy National Yak Day!