Chauri Centre left without any yaks

By Rajan Rawat,Humla, June 29: The Chauri (yak) Resource Centre, established to promote chauri husbandry at the local level, has now been left without a single chauri. 

The centre lost its livestock after the yaks were divided among locals.

Located in Tumling, a trans-Himalayan village in Ward No. 6 of Namkha Rural Municipality, the resource centre had initially been set up with significant investment to support commercial chauri farming in Limi. 

Local businessman Phunjok Lama reported that the centre, once home to a herd of chauri, is now completely empty.

The centre established four years ago had been maintaining the distributed chauri within its premises for three years. However, in December last year, locals decided to divide the livestock among themselves. 

According to the Animal Hospital and Livestock Service Centre, a total of 130 chauris were originally distributed. Including offspring born at the centre, the herd had grown to 230.

Initially, locals were hired as caretakers and chauris were kept at the centre using available budget. But due to a lack of continued funding, no one agreed to stay on as caretakers, so the villagers distributed the animals among themselves.

Over Rs. 25 million was invested in the resource centre’s infrastructure, including buildings, fencing, and livestock procurement. Limi Ward Chairperson Paljor Tamang confirmed that the centre is now sans chauri. He cited budget constraints as the main reason behind the situation.

The centre, which once symbolised hope for commercial yak farming with its large-scale infrastructure, now remains idle and empty.