Lots of rabbit lovers choose this breed mainly by its appearance. The cuter, the better. But maybe they don’t know that a certain kind from the order of lagomorphs lives in nature, and hardly any domestic rabbit can match it in its cuteness. The same way as once chinchilla used to be, today, the Ili pika is almost an extinct species.
Ochotona iliensis, that is the Ili pika is not only probably the cutest rodent, but also one of the most endangered animals in the world. During the past 20 years, the number of individuals of this species declined rapidly (about 70%) and it was considered to be essentially extinct. Today, their population is estimated at less than one thousand and continues to decrease.
The Ili pika belongs to the order of Lagomorphs. It looks like a cousin of the rabbit with short rounded ears and bright-coloured fur. It was discovered in 1983, and due to its rarity, we know only very little about it. It grows to about 20 cm and feeds on plants that it leaves to dry for the winter. We know almost nothing about its way of life. Thanks to this, it is also sometimes nicknamed the “magic rabbit”.
In May 2014, the naturalist Li Weidong, the original discoverer of this species, managed to find the first Ili since its discovery in Northwest China and also one of the last living Ilis ever.
Since due to the global warming Ili is moving to increasingly higher mountain places of the Tian-Shan mountain range in the Xinjiang province. The glaciers are disappearing and the eternal snow remains only at increasingly greater heights. While formerly, the Ilis live at the altitude of around 3,000 m a. s. l., today we won’t find them lower than 4,100 m a. s. l. and they basically have nowhere further to go. This, together with air pollution, is the reason that they’re dying out.
Unlike the authorities, who are doing virtually nothing for their rescue, Li Weidong has been financing research from his own resources and he is trying to save the species. So far however, there are no known measures that would help save the Ili pika, so it’s possible, that they might become extinct only several decades after their discovery. That is even sooner than we even manage to get to know this species at all. We can only hope that the Weidong’s effort will not come in vain and in the end, the Ilis will survive.
Sometimes, one dog is not enough and it is better to have a whole pack. Especially if you breed drafting (or also pulling) dogs. Of course, the more dogs you have, the more care and issues it means, but it also means there’s much more joy for the...
The modern world is not only rich in material things but also in the number of dog breeds. There are quite a lot of them, Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognizes 360 different breeds. And they are not only different from each other when...
There are many ways to learn a new thing. One of the most pleasant ones for both the dog and its owner is positive motivation. Thanks to it, a dog learns new tricks in a simple and pleasing way and it also helps to develop a mutual social relationship...
Pregnancy is a difficult time for a bitch in all aspects. The body nourishes more organisms and it needs to be reflected in her energy and nutrient intake. A breeder, racer and sport cynology contestant, Jitka Duffková, gives advice on how to make...
You might be interested in this dog sport but you have many questions before you can decide to start with it. Will my buddy enjoy it? Do I have sufficient physical abilities? When should we start, isn’t it too soon or too late? This article and advice...
A healthy mouth is a very important part of the complex vitality of a cat and we shouldn’t neglect taking care of it. There are many oral diseases our furry friends can suffer from. What can you do to keep your cat’s teeth clean?
Korat is a very rare breed that isn’t very common even in Thailand – the country of its origin. Thanks to its beautiful, soft, silver-tipped hair as well as its special nature, it’s unmistakable. This breed definitely deserves some attention.
Have you ever thought about how the composition of the gut microbiota of your dog companion influences its mood, metabolism or immune system in addition to its digestion? Do you know how bacteria work in guts and how to keep the good ones inside?
Letting furious dogs with only one task – to detain and put you down – bite you is definitely not for everyone. But is it really as horrifying as it may look from the outsider’s point of view? Jan Böhm answers our questions about what it takes to be...
Snakes and scorpions are said to get out on Saint George’s Day. It has been a while since then, so it’s no surprise that we can see a lizard or a snake when on a walk somewhere or in our gardens. They already left their underground shelters designed...
The German Boxer can truly be called a versatile dog. With no doubts, it can be a family dog, a watchdog or a rescuer. It is also good at sports. A long-term boxer breeder, Ing. Michaela Martinů, can confirm that.
Bikejöring doesn’t mean that a dog simply runs next to a bike. The dog pulls the bike when doing this sport, it is similar to dog sledding. A famous Slovak musher, Marcel Dučák, will tell us what equipment you need for it, what dogs it is good for,...
