The cute animal above, which is the size of a rabbit, has a face like a mouse, and looks like a teddy bear as a whole, but behind such a cute appearance it faces extinction! If you want to ask what is the highest level of protected animals in China? It is not necessarily the national treasure giant panda, but the Ili pika, which is known as the "Spirit of the Tianshan Mountains".
<h1 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" > the search history of the Ili pika</h1>
The higher the level of protection, the worse the racial status, the Ili pika once disappeared for 22 years before reappearing in nature, and the number is extremely rare. In 1983, this species was accidentally discovered by Mr. Li Weidong, who was engaged in plague control in the Tianshan Mountains, and was judged to be a new species by expert research, and named Ili Pika by the place where it was found.
After the discovery of the Ili pika, because of its rarity, in order to protect its species, Li Weidong and his team did not disclose this information, but secretly expanded the area to explore, according to incomplete statistics at that time, the number of Ili pikas remaining in the Tianshan area was less than 2,000.
Although the number is not endangered, due to topographic problems, the distribution of pika rabbits is limited to the same place and is not easy to intermarry with other species, and inbreeding is serious, resulting in a slow decline in its population. Although researchers continue to pay attention to and protect the Ili pika, in the following 20 years, the trace of the Ili pika has not appeared on the Tianshan Mountains, and the observation points that once left a note can not observe the figure of the Ili pika, they seem to have disappeared from the earth.
Li Weidong and his team observed the Ili pika near the Tianshan No. 1 glacier
In the context of everyone's belief that it is extinct, I don't know whether it is fate or providence, in 2014, Li Weidong and his team miraculously discovered the Ili pika, which is also the second time to see a living Ili pika in China after a gap of 22 years. As soon as this news came out, Li Weidong and his team quickly entered the post to monitor and protect it. Guarding the Spirit of the Tianshan Mountains for thirty years, he shared the white head with the Tianshan Mountains.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > Ili pika</h1>
Ili pika is a small mountain mammal, only existing in Xinjiang, China, mainly inhabit the alpine bare rock area above 2800 meters above sea level, because of its habitat perennial snow cover, plants are scarce, so it mainly feeds on alpine plants such as golden lotus, tiger ear grass, Tianshan snow lotus, etc. They will often eat their own feces to fill their hunger.
In such a climatic conditions as the Tianshan Mountains, survival is a huge challenge for them to face, here to grow cute can not be eaten as food, but also may be eaten, such a petite herbivorous animals as the Ili pika is simply a walking carnivorous for local carnivores, not only lynx, mink, foxes and other small carnivores like to eat them, even snow leopards, bears and large birds of prey are also "love" them.
In addition, as the climate warms, glaciers retreat, snow lines rise, and Ili pika habitat is lost in large areas, they have to move higher, which is not easy, it is even more difficult.
The environment is harsh, the food is insufficient, the predators are everywhere, and the time, location, "people" are not the same for the Ili pika. Therefore, its survival faces great challenges. After 14 years of discovery, its population is estimated to be less than 1,000.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > where should the Ili pika go? </h1>
When the news of the Ili pika reappearing in nature came out, it caused widespread discussion and concern, because of its cute and silly appearance, after learning about its harsh living conditions, many netizens strongly recommend that the observed Ili pika be raised as a pet, which can help it breed offspring and stay away from natural enemies.
In fact, the Ili pika belongs to the plateau organism, it is difficult to adapt to the low-altitude living environment, secondly, the human living environment can pose no less threat to it than in the Tianshan Mountains, because its population is sparse, the death of any Ili pika is a huge impact on the population, so it is still suitable for them is the best, nature's choice always has its reason.
The in-house method does not work, and it does not mean that humans are unable to implement protective measures. In 2005, as a unique and endangered species in China, the Ili pika was officially included in the Red List of Chinese Species. On July 24, 2010, the IUCN designated the day as "Save the Ili Pika Day."
At the same time, at present, two Ili Pika Nature Reserves have been established around the Tianshan Mountains, and Li Weidong is also constantly calling on everyone to pay attention to the Ili Pika with actions, hoping to protect the ecological environment while also protecting the rare Ili Pika.
Finally, may the Ili pika still shake its cute head in the Tianshan Mountains in the future!