kiang

Kiang (Equus kiang) is the largest wild member of the horse family native to the high‑altitude grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau in Central Asia. It is among the few non-domesticated equids adapted to extreme cold and thin air. Taxonomically, it belongs to genus Equus, subfamily Equinae. Most authorities recognize two subspecies, E. kiang kiang and E. kiang polyodon, though some classifications treat kiang as a single population without formal subspecies.

Description: An adult kiang stands about 1.2–1.4 meters at the shoulder and weighs around 250–300 kilograms. Its coat ranges from pale brown to gray with a dark dorsal stripe; a short erect mane runs along the neck, and it has large ears and a robust build suited to traversing steppe.

Distribution and habitat: Kiangs occur on the Tibetan Plateau, across China’s Qinghai, Tibet, Gansu, and Sichuan, with small populations extending into adjacent areas of India (Ladakh) and Nepal. They inhabit open steppe and alpine meadows at elevations roughly 3,000–5,500 meters, often in sparse, rugged terrain.

Ecology and behavior: Kiangs are highly social, forming herds that typically include one stallion, several mares, and their offspring, with bachelor groups also present. They migrate seasonally to access forage. Their diet consists mainly of grasses, herbs, sedges and shrubs. Reproduction occurs after a gestation of about 11–12 months, with a single foal born in late spring.

Conservation: The IUCN lists the kiang as Near Threatened, with declines in parts of its range due to poaching, overgrazing by domestic livestock, and habitat degradation. Protected areas and national parks within China and neighboring countries help conserve populations, and monitoring and anti-poaching efforts are employed in several reserves.