When it comes to tough, mountainous terrain, a yak is a dependable soldier.

Bahubali, a yak attached to the 13th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in north Sikkim, received the special service medal for delivering ration, equipment and ammunition to the border posts in the Himalayan state.

Bahubali, attached with the ITBP since February 20, 2017, was awarded for its services on far-flung border terrains between April 2021 and March 2022. “During this year, the yak travelled 2,348km in difficult mountain terrain and carried 7,818kg of supplies,” said an ITBP official.

Bahubali lives Mungthang, north Sikkim, on the border with China, but serves border posts at higher altitudes.

Ladakh-based pony Madhu also got the special service medal from the ITBP. They both received medals at their respective areas of posting on October 24, the Raising Day of the ITBP.

The medals are given annually to those members of the force’s Animal Transport Wing who have rendered exceptional services and undertaken some of the most arduous journeys in the hills to reach border posts.

“These posts are located at high altitudes from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, and they range from heights of 8,000 feet to 16,000 feet,” said an ITBP official, adding that the animals were a lifeline for the personnel at the posts.

The ITBP had instituted the animal awards, including the K9 (canine) medal, in 2016 to honour the services of its four-legged soldiers who help the troops maintain logistics and supply lines at high-altitude border posts.

The animals carry clothing, dry ration, fuel, ammunition, packaged food and other items to border posts.

Though dogs are part of the force’s Animal Transport Wing, ponies, mules and yaks are mostly deployed in extremely high altitudes with harsh weather conditions.