What is the significance of maintaining *Bos mutus* as the officially recognized entity for conservation status tracking, despite academic discussions about paraphyly?

It ensures regulatory bodies like CITES can rely on a stable scientific designation for protection mandates

The decision to maintain *Bos mutus* as the separate, officially recognized designation for the wild yak is primarily driven by practical and regulatory necessity, particularly concerning conservation. International bodies like CITES depend on clear species identification to enforce protective measures outlined in their appendices. Restructuring the entire *Bos* genus based purely on complex academic assessments of paraphyly stemming from genomic sequencing could destabilize established conservation protocols. Therefore, retaining the stable designation of *Bos mutus* is crucial for consistently tracking and applying the necessary protective mandates for the Vulnerable wild population.