Herding Yak has been one of the vital traditional livelihoods of the Himalayan people. However, it has declined nowadays due to various factors. Herding yaks requires a great deal of skill, knowledge, and patience. This paper focuses on the transformation of yak herding and the regeneration of the herding process in Chhimi, Helambu Valley, Nepal. The objective of the paper is to identify the factors leading to the transformation of herders in the Hyolmo community of Nepal. The study area lies within the Buffer Zone of Langtang National Park. The paper is based on anthropological fieldwork. Visual ethnography is a major approach to data collection. The paper's findings reveal that Yak herding is a traditional practice that was the main source of living for the Hyolmo people. Some Hyolmo people follow Zomo Gode, a temporary shelter of a family who herds Zomo. Yaks/Zomo are also used for transportation to the Himalayan regions. This occupation used to represent the family's high prestige in the past, but nowadays, people's perspective toward this occupation has changed. Nobody wants to continue this occupation. The Yak herders are facing several challenges. The number of Yak herding families gradually decreasing due to state policy, social/cultural value, market strategies, trade, tourism, modern education, and migration to cities and foreign countries for study and work. This paper presents the awareness of the traditional way of Yak herding in the highlands of the Himalayan region. This study will lay the groundwork for government officials to make constructive policies and regulations to preserve the heritage of the Hyolmo community of Nepal.
