This Animal Could be the Inspiration of Unicorn

Do you know what is the name of this horse-like animal?



It is called Kiang. The kiang (Equus kiang) is the largest of the wild asses. It is native to the Tibetan Plateau, where it inhabits montane and alpine grasslands.






Like all equids, kiangs are herbivores, feeding on grasses and sedges, especially Stipa, but also including other local plants such as bog sedges, true sedges, and meadow grasses. Kiangs sometimes gather together in large herds, which may number several hundred individuals. However, these herds are not permanent groupings, but temporary aggregations, consisting either of young males only, or of mothers and their foals. 





Natural historian Chris Lavers points to travellers' tales of the kiang as one source of inspiration for the unicorn, first described in Indika by the Ancient Greek physician Ctesias.




Habitat loss is a threat for kiang, as for other equids. In China, nomads are being allocated rangelands, which may exclude use by kiang. Oil and gold exploration pose additional threats. Disease transmission from horses owned by nomadic people to kiang needs to be better understood. Societal changes in Asia may further threaten kiangs. For example, whereas humans used to migrate with difficulty, vehicles now speed migration and make areas that were formerly inaccessible easily reached. Kiang must compete with livestock for forage and access to water sources.





If you have come across this animal while travelling, leave a comment here and share your experience with us!


Some references to kiang.