March 25, 2025
EARLY SPRING
Spring comes slowly to the Plateau. Warmer weather arrives hesitantly, interrupted by sudden snowstorms and dust storms that sweep across the land, shrouding it in howling grey mist or blanketing it in the pure, silent white of snowfall.
The yak is perfectly adapted to this harsh environment. It endures the bitter cold of winter by grazing on remnants of the past summer, supplemented with oats cultivated by nomads. All the while, it is protected by its dense, warm coat of khullu, which begins to shed in early summer.
The yak is perfectly adapted to this harsh environment. It endures the bitter cold of winter by grazing on remnants of the past summer, supplemented with oats cultivated by nomads. All the while, it is protected by its dense, warm coat of khullu, which begins to shed in early summer.
In the midst of this transition, the dri—female yaks—give birth. The air fills with their deep, guttural grunts. Within hours, their newborn calves, known as yeko, totter unsteadily on spindly legs, instinctively trailing their mothers. They feed on her rich milk, infused with nutrients from last year’s flora.
Unlike lambs born in the depths of winter, the yeko arrive with better timing. Within two months, the pastures will flush green, offering a lush supplement to their diet.
From a distance, a herd of yaks appears almost motionless—dark dots scattered across the brown-tinged green of spring grass. Among them, smaller dots dart and tumble, the young calves running and chasing each other in play.
