Kiang pictures and facts

The Kiang (Equus kiang), the largest wild ass, can go by many names: khyang, Tarpan or Gorkhar. They live on "the roof of the world", the Tibetan plateau, an elevated area of around 1000 (621 miles) by 2500 kilometers (1553 miles) (!) at altitudes ranging from 2700 to 5300 meters (8,800–17,400 ft), covering parts of Tibet, China and India. They are also known to live in Pakistan and Nepal. Because the terrain is so difficult and inaccessible, the Kiang is one of the least studied large animals in the world.

The Kiang has a large head, blunt muzzle and a curved nose and a average shoulder height is 140 centimeters. They have short manes which stand upright and a chestnut coat, which is darker in the winter and a little bit lighter (reddish) in the summer. The lower part of their body is white.

The wolf is the only real predator besides humans. Kiangs defend themselves by forming a circle and, with heads down kick out violently. This is an effective technique, so wolves usually attack single animals.

The Kiang has four subspecies, the Western, Eastern, Southern and Northern Kiang. The largest is the Eastern Kiang, the Southern is the smalles, the Western is a little bit smaller than the Northern and their coat has a darker shade of brown. They primarily feed on Stipa grass.

Picture of the Kiang by Bodlina, licensed under GFDL