Yak herding as a livelihood teetering on the brink of extinction: A case study from Ura village in Bhutan

Bumthang, a distinguished highland district in Bhutan, proudly boasts a rich legacy of yak farming – an integral practice that has sustained mountain communities across generations. Yaks, serving as fundamental livelihood assets, have provided essential resources such as food, clothing and draught power for pastoralists. Despite their historical significance, traditional yak farming has witnessed a significant decline, with the number of yak farming households plummeting from around nineteen to just one within the last two decades in Ura Gewog. The primary aim of this case study was to extract valuable insights from the last remaining yak herder regarding traditional yak farming practices. The study documents historical practices, the current state of yak farming, rangeland ownership, future perspectives and the challenges faced. The data were gathered employing a mixed-method approach, through telephone conversations and face-to-face interviews with a key informant. The findings serve not only as an anecdote of the culturally significant yak farming tradition for future generations but also as a crucial resource for policymakers making informed decisions on yak development. Despite concerns about economic viability, the herd of thirty milking yak cows sustains the livelihood of a three-member family household, generating an estimated annual gross income of Nu. 0.3 million (equivalent to USD 3,571). While there is substantial market demand for yak products, challenges such as increasing human-wildlife conflicts, labour shortages and climate change-related risks pose significant hurdles. Without strategic government interventions, making yak farming economically viable and appealing to mountain youths as a lucrative livelihood option will be challenging. Given the current circumstances, the last surviving yak herd in Ura Gewog is anticipated to vanish within a decade and in a worst-case scenario possibly even sooner. This underscores the urgent need for well-coordinated and impact-oriented government interventions to ensure the continuity and sustainability of yak farming.