Social media video featuring the project.
Footage - Upper dolpo
Naresh Kusi
Other projects
26 Mar 2015
Population Assessment and Conservation of Wild Yak (Bos mutus) in Upper Humla, Nepal
27 Jun 2017
Performing Genetic Analyses of Wild Yaks in Nepal, Investigating their Hybridization with Domestic Yaks and Producing Additional Conservation Materials
This project is aimed at exploring historical sites in Dolpo and Mustang and Chuwa khola valley of Humla to establish the first population estimate for wild yaks in Nepal. Assessment of major conservation threats and strengthening conservation efforts across these sites are other important objectives.
My previous project revealed that the population of wild yaks in upper Humla is very small and threatened. In addition to our main research site in Limi VDC, we also explored Chuwa khola valley in 2015 after local people informed us about wild yak presence in this valley. Although the herders reported two events of wild yak sightings in July-August 2015, we did not spot the animals ourselves. A longer and detailed research on wild yaks in this valley shall rightly portray the actual population estimate of the species in Humla. Presence of wild yaks in Mustang and Dolpo is suggested by observations of their horns in monasteries and chortens of these districts. During a three weeks research expedition to upper Dolpo in Sep 2015 the local people told us that wild yaks may still be wandering the remote trans-Himalayan valleys bordering Dolpo and Mustang districts. An in-depth research on wild yaks in these remote valleys is imperative to confirm the presence/absence of the species in these districts at present.
The criticality of wild yaks in Nepal demand some concrete steps by which the local people will be convinced of the importance of protecting the remnant population. Our experiences have shown that visual mediums like a documentary film and public information boards relay the message with better strength. Previously we had produced a four minute long wildlife documentary of upper Humla which had raised a large interest among relevant conservation stakeholders in the capital and was shared and watched widely in Humla.
The proposed documentary will portray threats to wild yaks in Nepal and propose their solutions. Similarly the information boards with photographs and relevant texts in the local Tibetan language and Nepali language will help to sensitize the local people of upper Humla on the urgency of wild yaks conservation and will present a long-term reminder on the issue. The population estimate and conservation threats obtained from this research will be informed to all the major conservation stakeholders in the study sites as well as in the national capital. The formulation of acts and policies for conservation of wild yaks in Nepal shall be facilitated by the workshops.