The Kiang is an animal of open terrain, mainly found in plains, alpine meadows, desert steppes, broad valleys and hills where grasses and sedges are abundant (Harris and Miller 1995, Schaller 1998, Shah 2002, Bhatnagar et al. 2006). They reach their highest densities on the vast alpine meadows of the Himalayas and range in elevation from 2,700-5,400 m asl (Schaller 1998). In Xinjiang Province, in the East Arjin Shan Nature Reserve, Kiang have been sighted at elevations between 3,345-4,355 m asl during a winter survey (Shah and Huibin 2000). In south and central Tibet, they were located between 4,305-5,431 m asl in September (Shah and Van Gruisen 2000, 2001). In Gansu Province, sightings range from 3,400-4,200 m asl (Bleisch 1996). They have been sighted at elevations of 3,500-5,400 m asl in Ladakh (Shah 1996, Shah and Qureshi 2002, Shah and Qureshi 2007a, St-Louis and Côté 2009), while in north Sikkim (India), the major Kiang sightings were in the undulating and rolling plains and meadows at an altitude of 5,100-5,400 m asl (Shah 1994, Shah 2002). Kiang also occur in desert steppe and other arid habitats, such as the Qaidam Basin. For example, Kiang are found in large numbers in the xeric, south-facing basins throughout Yeniugou (“Wild Yak valley” in Chinese) in Qinghai Province (Harris and Miller 1995). Kiang in Pakistan have been sighted along river and stream basins in patches of Myricaria, willow and Hippophe (Rasool 1992). Major sightings in Ladakh (India) are along riverine tracts of the Indus and Hanley Rivers and the species is very common in pastures around high altitude lakes (Shah 1996). Bhatnagar et al. (2006) observed most (73%) of the c. 200 Kiang groups on sedge (Carex spp. and Kobresia spp.) and grass (Stipa spp.) meadows in valley bottoms, which were occasionally interspersed with bushes of Caragana sp. These meadows appear to be critical habitat for Kiang during late summer, autumn and winter as also reported by Schaller (1998), but are limited in extent to narrow discontinuous strips in moist areas along valleys and lake basins. The remaining sightings were in areas that had sparse to dense Artemisia steppe (25%; with Tanacitum sp. and Sedum sp. being the other dominant plants) and high altitude forb meadows (2%; Saussurea spp., Salsola sp., and Polygonum sp. as the dominant plants).

The Kiang relies on coarse but abundant forage to meet its nutrient requirements (Duncan 1992, Schaller 1998). Stipa spp., a common grass on the Tibetan Plateau, constitutes most of the diet of Kiang, and sedges are eaten occasionally (Shah 1994, Harris and Miller 1995, Shah 1997, Schaller 1998, St-Louis and Côté 2014). There are direct observations of Kiang feeding on Carex spp., Kobresia spp. and Stipa spp. in Sikkim (Shah 1994, 1997). Forbs and shrubs are generally eaten in lower proportion (Harris and Miller 1995, Schaller 1998), but may be more frequently consumed at certain times of the year (e.g. during the fall; St-Louis and Côté, 2014). In Chang Tang, the summer diet of the Kiang was approximately 65% Stipa spp., followed by Kobresia spp., Carex spp., Poa spp. and Elymus spp. (Schaller 1998), with Tanecetum, Saussurea spp., Salsola sp., Polygonum spp. and Sedum sp. also consumed. In winter, the proportion of Stipa in Kiang diet may increase up to > 90% (Schaller 1998) in Tibet. In the same season, Kiang mostly feed on the Stipa-Tanecetum community (56%), followed by Allysum-Stipa (26%), Artemesia, Carex and Potentilla at Hanley Basin in India (as reported by both Shah and Qureshi 2007a, Hussain 2009).

No regular migration pattern has been observed in Kiang (Schaller 1998). They do, however, make seasonal movements between different habitat types, often dispersing in small groups into hilly terrain in summer, and concentrating in basins and flat terrains during winter (Schaller 1998). It has been suggested that these movements are linked to the availability of relatively high-quality forage (Schaller 1998, St-Louis and Côté 2014). Daily movements between flat plains and meadows and higher elevation terrain have been observed, suggesting a daily pattern of altitudinal movements (A. St-Louis, pers. obs.). In Ladakh and Sikkim Indo-China trans-boundary movements by Kiang have been reported by the pastoralists and the defence forces and was observed by the authors (Shah and Qureshi 2002). In Xinjiang Province, major activity occurs along the Stipa meadows; in winter mixed herds spent 50% of their time feeding (Shah and Huibin 2000), while in summer they spent less time (26%), spending most time feeding in spring (67%; Xia et al. 2013). Kiang have two peaks in time feeding during the day (Shah and Huibin 2000): during the summer it is in morning and evening (Xu et al. 2013), the morning peak shifts to afternoon during winter (Xia et al. 2013).

Limited observations indicate that the social organisation of the Kiang is similar to that of other wild equids living in arid conditions, such as Grévy’s zebra (E. grevyii), African Wild Ass (E. africanus) and Asiatic Wild Ass (E. hemionus; Schaller 1998, Shah and Qureshi 2007b, St-Louis and Côté 2009). In this type of social organization, there are no permanent groups, and the most stable social unit is mother-foal. Males do not permanently tend groups of mares and young but are territorial, and young males often form bachelor groups (Klingel 1977, Schaller 1998, Shah and Qureshi 2007b, St-Louis and Côté 2009). Male territorial behavior consists of chasing intruders as they come by and occupying the same area for several months (Shah 1993, Denzau and Denzau 1999). Males recognizable by natural marks have been observed occupying the same territory over a period of three years in eastern Ladakh (A. St-Louis pers. obs.). Kiang mares have a gestation period of 355 days (Shah 2002, St-Louis and Côté 2009) and normally foal in July and August (some in June and September; Shah and Qureshi 2002), which is also the period of time in which females appear to come into estrus (Shah 1993, Schaller 1998, St-Louis and Côté 2009) and males become solitary and spaced in such a fashion as to appear to be territorial. Females of the same reproductive stage are often associated together. Group sizes tend to be smaller during the breeding season, but large aggregations may form on good pasture during the fall and winter (Schaller 1998, Shah and Huibin 2000, Shah and Qureshi 2002). Herds congregate on good pastures in autumn and winter, at times in herds of 300 to 400 (Schäfer 1937, Schaller 1998, Shah and Huibin 2000, Bhatnagar and Wangchuk 2001). More than 500 Kiang were seen in one group in December 1999 (Shah and Huibin 2000).

The distribution of this species is centred on the Tibetan Plateau at elevations between 2,700 and 5,400 m asl. Most of the distribution is in China, but the species extends into northern parts of Pakistan, India, Nepal and possibly Bhutan. Within this broad range, Kiang distribution has become increasingly fragmented, and at present most of the large populations are found in protected areas with some along the international border with China, which is under the control of national armies.

In China all three subspecies of Kiang (Western, Southern and Eastern Kiang) occupy the Tibetan Plateau (Shah 2002). This species is found in much of Qinghai, in southern Gansu, in southern Xinjiang, in the northwestern corner of the Sichuan Province, and in most of Tibet (Xizang) covering an area of about 411,000 km² (Schaller 1998).

In Pakistan the Western Kiang is found at the western-most edge of the species' distribution range. Kiang are largely restricted to a belt stretching along the Oprang and Muztagh Rivers, close to the Pakistan-China border (Rasool 1992, Wegge 1988, Shah 2002).

In India, two subspecies occur: Western Kiang in Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir), Uttarakhand, and Southern Kiang in northern Sikkim (Shah 1994,1996), together covering an area of 15,000 km² (Chundawat and Qureshi 1999, Shah and Qureshi 2002, Shah and Qureshi 2007a), with some emerging reports of their occurrence from the Tsarap Chu and Sarchu areas of Himachal Pradesh (Y.V. Bhatnagar pers. comm).

In Nepal, Western Kiang occupy the upper Mustang valley and are restricted to a 340 km² area (Sharma et al. 2004) along the border with China.

There have been no reports of Kiang from Bhutan, but their presence is possible in the extreme north and northwest of the country (Jackson 1981, IUCN 1993, Shah 2002).

The Kiang is legally protected in most of its range. In China it receives first class protection; in India it is on Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife, Protection Act of 1972, in Nepal is protected under the National Parks & Wildlife Conservation Act 2029 (1973) and in Pakistan it is conserved under the Northern Areas Wildlife Preservation Act 1975. It is on Appendix II of CITES.

Although widespread and relatively common, the Kiang has received little scientific study. This means that much information that would aid conservation actions are lacking.

Conservation and research recommendations include: 

• Research in to the effects of climate change on this species.
• Use of molecular genetics to understand the taxonomic status of the three subspecies of Kiang and their distribution in the range countries, with urgent emphasis on the status of E. k. polyodon.  
• Coordinated surveys on the present distribution, population numbers and trends, using comparative methodologies. A province-wide status survey of the Eastern, Western and Southern Kiang needs to be determined. It is imperative to identify areas of overlap between the Eastern, Western and Southern Kiang in south-central Tibet.
• Comparative ecosystem analysis of habitat and forage requirements of domestic livestock and Kiang. Initial efforts should concentrate on known areas of seasonal overlap between Kiang, pastoralists and their livestock.
• Studies on population dynamics with emphasis on recruitment and mortality rates.
• Long-term studies should be implemented, in order to understand life-history strategies, movement patterns, resource selection patterns and competition with livestock. These data are necessary to develop sound management plans.
• Develop and implement mitigation management plans to reduce conflict between Kiangs and domestic livestock.
• Develop a protocol for disease monitoring. Vaccination program for domestic equids ranging and foraging in the Kiang habitats.
• Implement conservation education and awareness programs. These should be promoted amongst the army in areas where the Kiang habitat comes under military jurisdiction, in order to help conserve the Kiang and other wildlife. Awareness programs are also essential for local herders and animal husbandry officials for a more nuanced understanding of competition, or lack of it in their pastures.
• The trans-boundary aspects of management of Kiang need to be considered. Where possible, data sharing and management collaboration should be fostered between the park rangers and wardens who manage the same animals on either side of a border. In addition, a Kiang population and habitat viability analysis would bring all the scientists and managers associated with the species on one platform to develop a conservation action plan.
• A review of the management actions every 10 years would help to review conservation status of the species as it exists in the field, and the effectiveness of the conservation measures that have been taken at least in protected areas.