China Clones Wild Yaks to Save Critically Endangered Species

Chinese scientists have achieved the world's first successful cloning of wild yaks, marking a turning point for one of the planet's rarest large mammals.

The breakthrough came from a partnership between Zhejiang University and the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang. After sequencing the genomes of nearly 9,000 wild yaks, the team successfully cloned their first yak in July 2023, then followed up by cloning 10 more at once.

The real victory came when wild yak mothers delivered these cloned calves naturally, without assistance. This proves the technique could work at scale to save the species.

Wild yaks evolved over thousands of years to thrive in the freezing, high-altitude environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Their domestic cousins became essential to human survival in the Himalayas, providing wool for warmth, milk for food, and dung for fuel.

But the golden wild yak, a genetically distinct subspecies with a brilliant burnished gold coat, now teeters on the edge of extinction. Scientists estimate only 170 to 300 individuals remain in the highest reaches of Changtang National Park.

Over 700 local herders and farmers work to protect these animals, keeping domestic yaks away from wild populations and patrolling against poaching. Despite these stringent protections, the golden yak population suffers from dangerous inbreeding that threatens their survival.

The cloning program takes a clever approach. Rather than duplicating existing animals, scientists are creating calves with diverse genetics pulled from across the entire wild yak gene pool. This tackles the inbreeding problem head-on.

The technique mirrors a successful American conservation effort from 2008, when scientists cloned black-footed ferrets to save them from extinction due to limited genetics. Those cloned ferrets have since reproduced naturally in captivity.

The Ripple Effect

Tibetan legend says seven golden wild yaks were given as a dowry when two sacred mountains married. Now, modern science joins ancient tradition in protecting this living legend.

The success with common wild yaks paves the way for cloning the golden subspecies next. Scientists have already mapped the golden yak's complete genome and identified the unique traits that give it superior altitude tolerance, immune response, and its distinctive golden coat.

The team plans to establish entirely new wild herds carrying diverse genetics from across the species. This could restore healthy populations capable of surviving without human intervention.

Documentary filmmaker Ka Bu, who spent years filming the golden population, captured their beauty and precarious existence in his 2016 film. His work helped raise awareness about the urgent need for intervention.

The cloned calves represent more than scientific achievement. They're insurance against losing an animal that shaped human civilization in one of Earth's harshest environments.

With time and continued effort, the golden wild yak may continue roaming the Tibetan peaks where legend says they were born.