White yak, Tibet, 2022 (photography)

White yak in Nam Tso Lake (Nam Co) in Nyainqentanglha mountains, Tibet. The drop in temperatures with the consequent decrease in snowfall endangers the yak's habitat. The yak is a species of ox that lives in the high altitudes of Tibet, between 4,000 and 6,000 meters of altitude, where it is found both in the wild and domesticated. Currently, few wild specimens remain. Most are domestic animals that provide Tibetans with meat, milk, wool and even protection. Some are also used for the delight of tourists. Climate change has a direct effect on declining yak populations, yak breeding, high-altitude pasture degradation, and food and fodder shortages. The receding snow line causes alpine grasses to be replaced by invasive species of shrubs and weeds from lower areas.