During September 2009, study on status, distribution and habitat use of Equus kiang, Tibetan wild ass was carried out in Damodar Kunda valley of Surkhang VDC, Upper Mustang, Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. The valley was broadly divided into two lower and upper valley and again divided in to a total of 5 blocks. Primary data were collected by vantage point count method. Areas suspected to kiang habitat were visited and searched out using Nikon binoculars (10X50x) and Celestron Ultima80 spotting scope (20-60x) from suitable vantage points. Once animal sighted, information regarding vegetation types, aspect and slope were recorded in a data recording sheet. Local herders were also interacted during field visit. As a result, a total of 42 individuals of kiang were recorded in 5 herds. All the sightings were made in upper valley at a elevation ranging from 5172m-5407m. Group size ranges 2-16 individuals. Mean group size was 8.4 individuals with a density of 0.59/sq km. Fifty percent of the kiangs were recorded in dry grassland/meadow dominated by Stipa, Carex and Agrostis species and fifty percent in desert steppe dominated by forbs Saxifraga, Saussurea and Kobresia species. All the kiangs were recorded in southern aspects (55%) and north (45%). Ninety three percent of the kiangs in the study area were recorded in a flat terrain at a slope ranging from 0-10 degree. Kiangs were not recorded at localities above 20 degree slope. Kiang population in the valley seems fluctuation as compared to the biodiversity survey data of 2003 and 2007. Disturbances caused by livestock grazing, herder’s camps, pilgrims, NTFP collectors and trekkers have direct impact on kiang population and its habitat use. Long term ecological study is thought essential for conservation of the species and mapping its migratory corridors in Upper Mustang.
