Found in the cold, dry plateaus of Tibet and nearby countries, often at altitudes of 16,000 feet or higher, the yak is the wild ox in the cattle family, Bovidae. Suited for inclement conditions, yaks roam icy mountainsides and valleys and graze on coarse grasses.
   
A yak bull can grow to be 8 to 9 feet long, 6 feet tall at the shoulder hump and 1,200 pounds in weight. Despite their bulk, yaks are agile, sure-footed climbers and good swimmers. The horns spread outward and upward, and the head is held low like that of the bison.

Yaks are distinguished by their impressive coat of long hair that hangs to the ground. The soft hair on their shoulders, flanks and tail is used for cloth, while the coarser hair is woven into mats and tent coverings. The clowns at Ringling Bros. use sheared yak hair in their wigs since it is strong and durable. Usually blackish-brown in color, the yak's coat may also be red or brown with white.

For thousands of years, these animals have been domesticated for transportation as well as milk, meat and leather. The heavy forequarters of the yak make it a suitable pack animal as well. The domesticated yak is smaller than the wild yak and is often called the "grunting ox" because of the sound it makes.