For thousands of years, the gayal has been viewed as sacred by Dulong people living in a remote valley in southwest China's Yunnan Province. The cattle is called "abu" in Dulong dialect, meaning a bulky body with untamed nature. Although they have been domesticated by the Dulong people since ancient times, the animal still lives seclusively in the wild, deep in the mountains. Their only contact with human beings is when their keepers hike up the hills in about every 10 days to feed them salt. Watch this video to learn more about the bovine.

About Journeys in Nature: Timeless Valley Series

Dulongjiang, known as the "last uncharted land in Yunnan," is a deep valley on China's southwestern border between the Hengduan Mountains and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The place was once shrouded in mystery, until a highway connecting the valley to the outside world was fully opened in 2014. In this series, CGTN Nature takes you on a ride to unveil the incredible fauna and flora as well as the minority Dulong people who call this place home.

For more:

Timeless Valley Series Ep. 1: Access to valley with only one road

Timeless Valley Series Ep. 2: Forest dwellers' order of coexistence

Timeless Valley Series Ep. 3: The mountain villagers' wisdom

Timeless Valley Series Ep. 4: Using technology to understand Mishimi takins

Timeless Valley Series Ep. 5: How does it feel to wear a rainbow?

Timeless Valley Series Ep. 6: Dulong women's awe of nature

(Cover image a video screenshot; video by the CGTN Nature film crew)

(If you have specific expertise and want to contribute, or if you have a topic of interest that you'd like to share with us, please email us at nature@cgtn.com.)