Halted Tibet trade and dwindling income push yak herders to the brink

Before the covid pandemic, yak and chauri trade thrived in eastern Nepal’s mountain districts, but border closures halted livestock exports.

Nupu Sherpa, Taplejung president of Yak-Chauri Farmers' Federation, owns a herd of 80 yaks and 10 chauris. Chauris are primarily used for carrying loads while yaks are reared for sale. When the animals are released from the barn into the open pastures, it is a sight to behold. Nupu finds joy in his work but faces immense hardships to continue his ancestral occupation. Despite his efforts, he has not been able to generate any income from yak farming for the past four years.