Spotted for the first time in 20 years, this tiny, adorable mammal could go extinct at any time
For the first time in 20 years, an incredibly rare (and abundantly cute) mammal has been spotted in China. With less than 1,000 animals believed to be left in its natural habitat, the Ili Pika is one of the world’s most endangered species.
At just over 20cm, this rabbit relative was discovered in 1983 by conservationist Li Weidong, who has watched its population steadily decrease since then. The Ili Pika is only found in the Tianshan mountain range in north-western China, and its territory is under threat.
Mr Weidong believes that global warming is the cause of the Ili Pika’s population decline, with the permanent snow altitude in the area rising. He warns that the species could be extinct at any time.
Image credit Li Weidong
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