WINSTON WEEKLY^[1]

August 9, 2026

Vol. 4, No. 32

REMARKABLE TIBET[2]

From the well-known yaks and antelopes to the lesser known and rarely seen Tibetan Blue Bear, Tibet is home to more than 140 species of mammals, more than 450 species of birds, and countless insects, and reptiles. Primarily occupying Western and Northern Tibet, Tibetan Antelopes or Chiru are related to goats and sheep and have a dense and wooly underfur. Often seen grazing in the summer on alpine grasses and shrubs, females have been known to migrate hundreds of miles to summer calving grounds before returning with their calves. Other than mating season, males and females largely live separately. At the beginning of the 20^th century, their population was nearly one million. By the 1990s, the population had dwindled to 65,000. With conservation efforts over the past three decades, the population now stands at approximately 300,000.

In Tibetan Buddhism, yaks are revered for their resilience, dedication, and strength. The mighty Tibetan Yak, known as the “Boat of the Highland,” weighs between 700 to nearly 2,200 pounds. Yaks are predominately black or dark brown, although the rare snow-white yak is occasionally seen near Tianzhu and Namtso. Their milk is consumed in the same manner as Americans consume cow’s milk, and used to make butter, cheese and yogurt. Even yak dung is put to good use, often as a fuel source for cooking and heating homes as it generates long-lasting heat with no foul odor.

Information on the Tibetan Blue Bear is sparse. One of the rarest brown bears on earth, it resides in the Tibetan Plateau. Although sightings are sporadic, it was first identified in 1854.

WEEKLY ACTIVITY

See if you can find other bears that are nearly as rare as the Tibetan Blue Bear or explore the many birds and reptiles of Tibet. An inspirational children’s book is A Voice for the Spirit Bears, based onthe early life of Simon Jackson who founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition and later hiked the Great Bear Rainforest. Written by Carmen Oliver, it was published by Kids Can Press in 2019. One of the most comprehensive books on Tibetan birds is Charles Vaurie’s 1972 book, Tibet and Its Birds, published by H.F. & G. Witherby.

---

[1]A weekly blog/newsletter by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2]Resources: Tibetan Animals and Birds: Wildlife and Domestic, www.wondersoftibet.com; Tibetan Antelope, International Fund for Animal Welfare, www.ifaw; Ethan Caldwell, Yak: The Ultimate Guide to the High Mountain Herds, 2026; Brandon Wilson, Yak Butter Blues: A Tibetan Trek of Faith, Pilgrim’s Tales, 2005.