Mammals
Kiang
Equus kiang · also called Tibetan wild ass
Across a treeless plain on the roof of the world, a herd of chestnut kiang gallops through thin, cold air, the largest wild asses on Earth.
Overview
The kiang, Equus kiang, is a Least Concern wild ass of the Tibetan Plateau and neighbouring high country in China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. As the largest wild ass, living at some of the highest altitudes of any equid, it is one of the great grazers of the high plateau.
A wild ass of the high plains
The kiang thrives where few other large grazers can, running across open plains in thin air at altitudes above 4,000 metres.
Status
Least Concern, with a large and stable population.
Kiang: common questions
How big is the kiang?
It is the largest of the wild asses.
How high does the kiang live?
It lives on high plains and mountain grassland at heights of roughly 2,700 to more than 5,000 metres.
Who leads kiang herds?
Herds are led by an older female, with males forming separate groups or living alone.
Where is the kiang found?
It lives on the Tibetan Plateau and neighbouring areas of China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.