Normal Altitude Range for Yak

Yak dwells in the high hills of Himalayas even at altitudes of 6,000 meters above mean sea level. What is the normal range for yak-

Correct Answer: 3000-4500 m

While Yaks can survive at extreme altitudes up to 6,000 m, their normal physiological habitat range is 3000 to 4500 meters above mean sea level in the Himalayas.

Yak — Key Facts

• Scientific name: Bos grunniens (domestic yak); Bos mutus (wild yak)
• Chromosome number (2N): 60 (same as cattle, goat)
• Habitat: High-altitude Himalayan region (Tibet, Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh)
• Normal altitude range: 3000–4500 m; can survive up to 6000 m
• Products: Milk, meat, wool (khullu), draught
• Adaptations: Large lungs, thick coat, high haemoglobin affinity for oxygen

Why Other Options Are Wrong

• 2000–3000 m → too low; this is the typical range for cattle and horses in hills
• 2500–3500 m → partially overlaps but is not the accepted standard range
• 4500–5500 m → extreme survival range, not the normal thriving range