It looks like a stuffed animal but is a delightful pet in all respects. The Pika of Ili (Ochotona iliensis), a small mammal of the order of lagomorphs, cousin of hares and rabbits, has reappeared in Asia with its furry face, which was discovered in the mountains of northwestern China in 1983 by Weidong Li, a scientist of the Xinjang Institute for Ecology and Geography. He hadn't been seen again for 20 years.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
It looks like a stuffed animal but is a delightful pet in all respects. He has reappeared in Asia with his hairy face the Pika di Ili (Ochotona iliensis), a small mammal of the order of lagomorphs, cousin of hares and rabbits, which was discovered in the mountains of northwestern China in 1983 by Weidong Li, a scientist from the Xinjang Institute for Ecology and Geography. He hadn't been seen again for 20 years.
During his research on natural resources and infectious diseases, Weidong Li found a small creature with thick fur and a tender bear face that had apparently never been detected before. He sent a sample to the Chinese Academy of Sciences and in fact realized that it was a new species.
They have since been reported only 29 direct sightings of Ili's Pika, then for years there has been more trace. Until 2014, when Li rolled up his sleeves and called a group of volunteers together to look for the Pika in his mountains. And here is that cute little nose popped out again.
I point, o “ocotoni“, Are widespread not only in Asia, but also in Eastern Europe and North America. Like other North American species, Ili's Pika lives between 2.800 and 4.100 meters and feeds mainly on grasses and mountain plants. It is small in size, has a stocky body with short and robust legs, rounded ears and a very short tail.
A really nice look, a bit reminiscent of the Quokka, "The happiest animal in the world".
Like all animals that live at high altitudes, it is a lot sensitive to changes in its habitat: in the 2.000s its population was estimated at XNUMX, but according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature it has been steadily decreasing since then. According to the Red List of the IUCN and the Chinese government the species is considered to be at risk of extinction.
What are the biggest dangers? Needless to say intensive exploitation of pastures by livestock farmers and air pollution, which could take away vital food from him and put him to risk of extinction. This is why Weidong Li hopes that this return of the pika will lead to an initiative to create protected areas.
Germana Carillo
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