In Mongolia, the yak is an animal, which has been an integral part of nomadic life for millennia. This sturdy beast, apart from producing creamy milk and good meat, is indispensable for heavy work, such as pulling the carts when a nomadic family is moving to a new camp. Yak wool is also excellent for making into clothes.

Every year, a festival is held in the South Gobi (Umnugovi) Province, to celebrate this remarkable creature. This year, no less than 700 yaks were brought together for the 8^th Yak Festival by over 20 herder families. The event, which took place at the Vulture’s Mouth Gorge (Yolyn Am) in the Three Beauties National Park was attended by over 2000 visitors from Mongolia and around the world.

According to statistics, in 2019, there were over 1200 yaks in South Gobi.