Kiang/Tibetan wild ass (Equus kiang): Characteristics, Habitat, Diet, Behaviour and Status

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The Kiang is the powerful and the largest animal of Asinus subgenus. It is native to the Tibetan Plateau in Ladakh, northern Pakistan, Tajikistan, China and northern Nepal. The range of Kiang is very wide extending from Tibet, Tsinghai and Szechuan regions in China to trans-Himalayan Indian regions of east Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir and North Sikkim. It inhabits montane grasslands and shrublands. Other common names of this species are Tibetan wild ass, khyang and gorkhar.
Characteristics:
Kiang is the largest of wild asses, with an average height at withers of 140 cm. They range from 132 to 142 cm high at the withers with a body 182 to 214 cm long and a tail of 32 to 45 cm.
Kiang have a sexual dimorphism with the males weighing from 350 to 400 kg, while the females weigh 250 to 300 kg.
They have a large head with a blunt muzzle a convex nose. The mane is upright and relatively short.The coat is a rich
chestnut colour, darker brown in late summer. The summer coat is 1.5 cm long and winter coat is double that length. The legs, underparts, end of muzzle and inside of ears are all white. Three subspecies of Kiang are currently recognised . And Eastern Kiang is the largest subspecies and the Southern is smallest, Western Kiang is Slighty smaller than Eastern.
Behaviour & Diet:
Kiang are herbivores and feeding on grasses and sedges. Their only predator other than humans is the Himalayan wolf. Kiang defend themselves by forming a circle and with heads down and kickoff violently.

Status:
Kiang (Equus kiang) is reported as a visitor in the cold desert tracts of Ladakh and tracts of Spiti. It is listed in Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.