ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Environment → Animals

Cute bunny species observed for the first time in 20 years

There's good news, and bad news. The good news is that an extremely rare bunny has been observed for the first time in 20 years, but the bad news is that their numbers seem to have dwindled more than ever, and we may never see them again.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
March 25, 2015
in Animals, Great Pics, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit
It’s extremely cute, and extremely endangered.

There’s good news, and bad news. The good news is that an extremely rare bunny has been observed for the first time in 20 years, but the bad news is that their numbers seem to have dwindled more than ever, and we may never see them again.

The tiny Ili Pika, an eight-inch long rabbit-relative, is one of the world’s most endangered animals – with less than 1000 surviving members in the wild. Their numbers have continuously went down for decades; it’s estimated that there were around 2,900 animals living in the Tianshan when they were first discovered in the 80s, so they’ve witnessed a huge decrease.

Li Weidong, the conservationist who discovered them, told CNN:

“I discovered the species, and I watched as it became endangered. If it becomes extinct in front of me, I’ll feel so guilty.” He and his volunteers have dubbed it the ‘magic rabbit,’ but they suspect that its populations may be declining, at least in part due to global warming.

The exact causes of their problems are not known, but it is speculated that an increase in grazing pressure and global atmospheric pollution resulting in climate change threatens them significantly.

In 1983, when Li first found the species, no one knew what it was. Li and his colleagues conducted a number of studies, including a census at 14 different sites, but after Li moved to work with the Xinjiang Academy of Environmental Protection in the regional capital Urumqi, no one went searching for it and no one saw it – for 20 years. Li returned to the site, investing his own money to search for the elusive creature and to estimate its status; he claims that he invested over $32,000 in this affair so far, and he’s currently raising gas money to conduct more expeditions. But what upsets Li most isn’t the lack of funding. It’s the lack of official recognition for the Ili, and other pikas’ plight.

RelatedPosts

Hazardous smog paralyzes 11 million people in China
Chinese province runs on 100% renewable energy for a week, saves half a million tonnes of coal
Another Chinese EV manufacturer wants a piece of the cake — can the Atvus sedan take on Tesla?
China set to take the lead in supercomputers with ridiculously powerful ‘exascale’ machine slated for 2018

The Ili pika isn’t included on China’s List of Wildlife under Special State Protection and so sadly, there are no conservation efforts in place for this species. If current trends continue, it may go extinct right in front of us.

“The Department for Wildlife and Forest Plants Protection, under the Ministry of Forestry, said it was in the process of updating the list but declined to give any further details,” the CNN writes.

Li Weidong, the man who discovered and works to monitor the Ili Pika, seems one of the few people interested about the Pika’s struggle.

There’s also another problem – aside for Li, no one seems to be interested to study and defend the Ili pika.

“I’m almost 60, and soon I won’t be able to climb the Tianshan Mountains,” he said. “So I really hope that an organization will have people study and protect the Ili Pika.”

We hope so too – driving this creature to extinction and not even caring about it doesn’t seem quite fair, does it?

All images via CNN.

Tags: chinaendangered animalili pika

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Archaeology

Scientists Discover One of the Oldest Known Matrilineal Societies in Human History

byMihai Andrei
6 days ago
Environment

Thousands of Centuries-Old Trees, Some Extinct in the Wild, Are Preserved by Ancient Temples in China

byTibi Puiu
3 weeks ago
Long March 2D
News

China Is Building The First AI Supercomputer in Space

byJordan Strickler
1 month ago
News

This Wild Laser Setup Reads Tiny Letters From Over 1.3 Kilometers Away

byTibi Puiu
1 month ago

Recent news

What’s Seasonal Body Image Dissatisfaction and How Not to Fall into Its Trap

June 28, 2025

Why a 20-Minute Nap Could Be Key to Unlocking ‘Eureka!’ Moments Like Salvador Dalí

June 28, 2025

The world’s oldest boomerang is even older than we thought, but it’s not Australian

June 27, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.