Yaks, an unusual sight, have started appearing in the foothills in Almaty more often. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at recent encounters with the animals and explains how to behave correctly around them.
A post on Threads by an Almaty resident recently went viral, showing a photo of the bovines walking down the road from the Medeu skating complex toward the city. Adult yaks with calves quickly became the subject of discussion, garnering thousands of views.
The herd was presumably on grazing or had decided to descend closer to the city — the animals do this when sensing approaching precipitation.
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Yaks appear to have become accustomed to people and walk calmly along the mountain roads. They can be seen in the Kimasar and Butakovka Gorges, near Medeu and Shymbulak. In hot weather, the bovines stay at altitudes of around 3,000 meters.
There are several reasons for yaks to be in the mountains near Almaty. According to one account, the animals were transported from Kyrgyzstan back in the 1990s to increase species diversity. Another explanation is that the yaks are kept on a private farm and occasionally released for unrestricted grazing — their meat is served at a restaurant in Almaty.
If you encounter yaks on a road or in the mountains, it’s better to remain calm and avoid sudden movements. Do not approach, pet, or feed the animals. Yaks can be unpredictable. Moreover, they may actively defend their calves, so it’s best to keep a safe distance.
Kursiv LifeStyle previously reported on North American bison in Kazakhstan. The rare animals live in Buiratau National Park, about a three-hour drive from Astana.
