Kiang

/kjˈaŋ/

/kjˈæŋ/

[noun]

Kiang

[NOUN]

a large wild ass found on the Tibetan Plateau

synonyms : Equus kiang

What is a "kiang"?

The Kiang is a wild equid species that is native to the high-altitude grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau. They are the largest wild ass species, standing up to five feet tall at the shoulder and weighing up to 550 pounds. Kiangs have a distinctive reddish-brown coat and a long, flowing mane, as well as large, pointed ears that can rotate 180 degrees to detect predators. They are adapted to life in harsh, mountainous environments, and are able to survive on sparse vegetation and withstand extreme temperatures. Kiangs are social animals, living in herds that can number up to several hundred individuals. They are an important part of the Tibetan ecosystem, serving as a food source for predators such as snow leopards and wolves, and helping to maintain the grasslands through their grazing behavior.

Examples

1. At 11,500 feet above sea level, Ladakh is home to about 2,000 kiangs, including Dorje and his herd.

2. At 11,500 feet above sea level, Ladakh is home to about 2,000 kiangs, including Dorjay and his herd.

3. Meanwhile, further to the east, Fodé Kaba had established his own embryonic Muslim polity, straddling Jarra, Kiang and Fogny, from 1875.

4. But kiangs have evolved a digestive system far more efficient than most of their equine relatives.