Biker Knocked Flying By Male Yak Protecting Calf After Riders Follow Herd Along Narrow Road

This is the moment a motorcyclist is sent flying after a male yak protecting his calf suddenly charges and rams him as the group follows the animals along a narrow mountain road.

The incident happened in the Bawang Lake area near Gongga Mountain in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, south-western China, at around 11am on 23rd August.

The biker, identified only by his surname Mr. Zhou, had set off from Chengdu with friends for a motorcycle trip through western Sichuan when they encountered a group of yaks on a road running beside a cliff and a body of water.

The road was narrow, and most of the animals moved towards the side to let the riders pass.

Mr. Zhou said he was accustomed to seeing yaks while riding along routes in western Sichuan and had previously found that they normally moved out of the way.

He said: "We've seen yaks many times before, and they would always move to either side when we rode past."

He added that he had seen reports of yaks attacking people online but had never experienced anything similar himself, leaving the group unaware of the danger ahead.

The riders were admiring the newly built section of road and the steep old cliffside track when Mr. Zhou failed to notice that a yak was travelling with a calf.

He later reviewed the footage and realised they had been gradually driving the animal forward for more than 200 metres (656 feet).

Mr. Zhou said he did not stop because he was worried the yak would simply remain in the road, so he continued slowly behind it.

He said: "I was in a hurry and was worried that if it saw nobody behind it, it would just stop there and refuse to move.

"Suddenly it stopped. When I saw such a strong yak turn its head towards me, I knew something was wrong."

The footage then shows Mr. Zhou jumping from his motorcycle as the yak charges towards him.

He tried to turn the front of the motorcycle to block the animal, but the distance was too short and the yak smashed into both him and the bike.

The impact sent Zhou crashing onto the ground, where he landed heavily on his backside and injured his tailbone.

He said: "It hurt quite a lot at the time, and I couldn't get up immediately. I had to get up slowly from my knees."

The force of the collision also broke the camera mount that had been recording the ride.

The yak then turned and charged towards another rider behind Mr. Zhou, who managed to dodge it.

Two more members of the group, who were further away, saw the incident and the yak also appeared ready to charge at them, but it did not hit them.

Mr. Zhou said he realised after getting back to his feet that the yak had been protecting its calf.

He said: "I had heard before that cattle protect their young, but I had never encountered a male yak doing it.

"I've seen many yaks, so when it took up that position before charging, I knew I was in trouble."

Mr. Zhou later said his tailbone had felt uncomfortable but that he had suffered no serious injury and was now fine.

He described the incident as a lesson and urged other riders not to try to force yaks with calves out of their way.

He said: "If you encounter a yak with a calf, keep your distance and go around them.

"At the time I was in a hurry, but if you're short on time, take a detour. Don't try to chase them."

(Marija Stojkoska/Newsflash)