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Kiang
Equus kiang
34.3333, 77.4167
Field Notes
Description:
Kiang also known as Tibetan Ass or Asiatic Ass (Equus kiang) is a species that possess a keen eyesight and well-developed sense of smell. It feeds on grass and herbs. The genders are alike and weigh between 250 – 380 kg / 551 – 838 lbs., adding about 10 kg / 22 lbs. fat towards winter. Longevity is reported to be about 20 years. A social animal, it lives mostly in sexually separated hordes of 10 – 40 individuals. Actively grazes throughout the day and can stay without water for quite some time. When alarmed, the entire group flees in a straight gallop (easily reaching the speed of 60km / 37 miles per hour).
Habitat:
Found in high altitude, open bleak semi-deserts, steppes, grassy rolling tablelands and soft sandy slopes, often near marshes or springs. Resident throughout east and north Ladakh can be found between 4, 000 – 5, 200m / 13, 123 – 17, 060 ft. altitudes, occasionally even higher. The species however moves considerably back and forth across the Tibetan border, very often related to direct disturbance and human presence/absence. An estimated more than 2000 kiang are surviving in Ladakh.
Notes:
Natural predators include mainly wolf and Tibetan wild-dog, which hunts foals, old and injured or sick animals. This photo shot in the army restricted wetlands of Ladakh.
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