Dangerous Yaks at Tsomgo / Changu Lake

I'd like to make all travelers aware of the danger posed by the yaks grazing near the lake at Tsomgo, a.k.a. Changu, in North Sikkim.

We nearly lost our teenage daughter to a charging yak that drove its horns up into her chest. Fortunately the horns left only bleeding grazes on each side of her chest and holes through three layers of thick clothing. She was thrown back and only saved from further charges by my wife initially distracting the yak and then the soldiers from the nearby camp rushing to their aid when they heard the screams of our panicking youngest daughter. The soldiers were magnificent and offered first aid. They also told us that they lost one of their own to a yak a few months earlier. This soldier died from a punctured lung and bled to death. We consider our daughter extremely lucky to have avoided a goring or worse.

When you arrive at Tsomgo, you will be greeted by numerous young yak herders with colourfully decorated "tourist yaks" touting for photos and yak rides. These animals are relatively docile and the herders control them with wacks and leashes. You are best to exercise caution and avoid the yak's business end. HOWEVER, lurking nearby are grazing yaks belonging to the local people that are not use to close human contact. They may be large and you might wonder how you might not see them, but amongst the huts, boulders and terraced hillside these animals can be difficult to spot until you are almost upon them.

PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL and especially explain the difference between the "cuddily tourist yaks" and the grazing variety to children. Don't let them believe that they can safely approach any yak that may be just behind a building or rock.

Tsomgo Lake is well worth visiting, JUST TAKE CARE.

Thanks for the caution, im planning to visit sikkim next month.

It's always better to avoid these yaks at the best of times. Even on the trekking trails I try to stay clear of them as they can be quite unpredictable.

Sujoy, Thanks, absolutely agree. Keep a safe distance always.

I was also taught years ago that when confronted by yaks on a narrow trekking trail, always move to a safe spot on the uphill side of the trail so you aren't bumped off into the abyss by a skittish animal.

Really glad so many people have read this post - I'm so keen that nobody else goes through what we did.

I met a girl that had the same sort of thing happen to her - only it was a bull & in the streets of Jaipur near Hawa Mahal .... she barely managed to escape serious injury & puncture wounds .... just luck really, it was in fate's hands. Give all animals a wide berth - dogs, monkeys, cows, yaks, mangy cats, rabid touts etc, etc, etc,