Yaks and other wildlife

Time for some Himalayan fauna and flora.

Firstly the yaks. We're seeing lots of these - in fact our group includes three of them, which are carrying our luggage between stops. Below about 3000 meters a cross between yaks and cows (caks?) is used - seen in the picture to the right - as yaks themselves prefer to the thinner air at higher altitudes and don't do well down low. The first photo below shows some proper yaks - longer-haired and larger than the cross.

We're also seeing 'Yak Steak' on the menu at the lodges each night. It's probably buffalo (we're told) but tastes good none-the-less.

There's not a lot of flora around - we're a bit early in the year and had we arrived a few weeks later we might have seen the rhododendron forests in full bloom. However as we start our trek there are already a number of primula coming up and on the way back the ground will be covered.

 

Next up, some birds. First is the Impeyan Pheasant, the national bird of Nepal. We see quite a few of these below 4000 meters. They tend to be seen at ground level, scratching at the dirt, and their colour really catches the eye. Next we see some Himalayan Griffon Vultures circling overhead - there must be something dead nearby.

 

We see plenty of Snow Leopard footprints in the snow in various places along the route, but no sign of the animals themselves. Our guide also claims to have spotted a Musk Deer, but none of the group have eyes quite that sharp.