Yak

LC Herbivore Mountains
500–1200 kg
Weight
20–25 yrs
Lifespan
24 km/h
Top Speed
Himalayas, Central Asia
Found In

Found in mountains habitats across Himalayas, Central Asia, the Yak is a herbivore member of the Bovidae family. Weighing 500–1200 kg, it is exceptionally high among herbivore mammals. Conservation status: Least Concern.

Physical Characteristics & Habitat

Size & Speed

Metric Yak Herbivore Mammals Median Difference
Weight 850 kg 117.3 kg ↑ 625%
Height 150 cm
Top Speed 24 km/h 40 km/h ↓ 40%
Avg Speed 24 km/h
Weight (kg)850avg 117.3Speed (km/h)24avg 40Lifespan (yrs)22.5avg 22.5

Habitat & Distribution

The Yak inhabits mountains habitats. It can be found in Himalayas, Central Asia.

Typical coloring: Brown, Black.

Diet & Predators

Diet: Herbivore
Predators: Snow Leopards, Wolves

Behavior & Reproduction

Social Structure

The Yak is a group-based species belonging to the Bovidae family.

Reproduction

Gestation Period: 215–280 days
Offspring per Birth: 1
Lifespan: 20–25 years

Conservation & Comparison

IUCN Conservation Status

LC The Yak is classified as Least Concern. There are 66 species with the same status in our database.

Species Comparison

Among 50 herbivore mammals, the Yak’s weight of 500–1200 kg is significantly higher than the group median of 117.3 kg.

Weight rank: #3 of 66 Least Concern species.

# Species Weight Status
1 Humpback Whale Up to 30000 kg LC
2 Walrus Up to 1200 kg LC
3 Yak 500–1200 kg LC
4 Water Buffalo 300–1200 kg LC
5 Zebra 400–900 kg LC

Related Species

How much does a Yak weigh?

A Yak typically weighs 500–1200 kg, which is exceptionally high compared to the median of 117.3 kg among herbivore mammals.

What is the conservation status of the Yak?

The Yak is classified as “Least Concern”. There are 66 species with the same status in our database.

Where does the Yak live?

The Yak is found in Himalayas, Central Asia, in mountains habitats.

How does the Yak reproduce?

The Yak has a gestation period of 215–280 days and typically produces 1 offspring per birth.

Data Sources: IUCN, WWF, National Geographic, Smithsonian Institution.

Last Updated: April 10, 2026