A Nepalese legend relates that in the old days, the water buffalo and the yak were the best of friends. They both very much appreciated salt, but, sadly, this commodity was rather scarce. The yak volunteered to go into Tibet to look for salt, but before leaving he asked the water buffalo, if he could borrow his fur, so that he could keep warm in the fierce cold on the high Tibetan plateau. The buffalo readily agreed to this, and off the yak went, clad in a double layer of fur. The buffalo waited and waited, but the yak never returned. Still today, the buffalo is often looking towards the high mountains in the north to see, when its friend will return with the salt and the borrowed fur.

More pictures of yak and water buffalo may be seen elsewhere on this website, see Animals: Animals as servants of Man.

(Uploaded February 2016)

(Revised September 2017)