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Romanian Journal of Biology - Zoology
ROMANIAN ACADEMY |
HABITAT SURVEY OF EQUUS KIANG KIANG FROM CHANGTHANG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY OF LADAKH, INDIA
MUMTAZ ALI, KISHOR PATIL, ASHWIN ATKULWAR
Abstract:
Equus kiang kiang Moorcroft, 1841 is one of the subspecies of wild asses, belonging to the family Equidae. The historical distribution of Equus kiang kiang was the entire Tibetan Plateau but the current population is restricted to the Ladakh region of India and the plains of the Tibetan Plateau. Though Equus kiang kiang is listed as the least concerned by IUCN but it is an unexplored and data-deficient wild ass. During this study, we investigated the potential habitat of Equus k. kiang in the Changthang Plateau of the Ladakh region. We employed photographic records of the Equus k. kiang from its entire distribution range in order to survey the habitat and abundance of animal. At the same time, the human-kiang conflict was deciphered by personal interviews of people residing in the nearby hamlets of the Changthang Plateau of the Ladakh region. The faecal samples of Equus k. kiang were also collected from different locations in Changthang Plateau to extract genomic DNA. The species was found to occupy all different habitats within the sanctuary confirming the negative impact of human interference on Equus k. kiang. The interviews with the local residents and pasture owners reveal potential human-kiang conflict.
Citation:
MUMTAZ ALI, KISHOR PATIL, ASHWIN ATKULWAR, 2023. HABITAT SURVEY OF EQUUS KIANG KIANG FROM CHANGTHANG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY OF LADAKH, INDIA, Romanian Journal of Biology - Zoology, 68(1-2): 77–84.
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