The Ili pika might be the cutest animal in the world. The teensy mammal, which looks something like a cross between a hamster, a bunny and a teddy bear, was first discovered in China’s Tianshan Mountains in the early 1980s.
A scientist named Li Weidong found the first Ili pika in 1983 while studying infectious diseases in a mountainous province. In 1985, he captured several specimens, and researchers were able to study the newly discovered species.
Then, proving we can never have too much of a good thing, the Ili pika all but disappeared for more than 20 years. Only 29 live pika have been spotted over the decades, and there were no photos to study. That is, until 2014, when Li, the original discoverer, and a team of volunteer researchers stumbled upon a pika who was anything but camera shy.
Since the rediscovery, scientists have learned that China’s cutest critter may be in trouble. Like other species of pika found in North America (which are still cute, but not this cute), the Ili pika lives at high elevations and eats grasses and mountain plants. The smallest change to the environment – like China’s increase in grazing livestock and worsening air pollution – can drastically affect the pika. It’s now believed the Ili pika is endangered, but no efforts are yet underway to help the species survive.
Li has said he hopes his photos of the Ili pika will help change that; after all, who could possibly say no to that face?
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