Photo credit: Li Weidong
The Ili Pika, Ochotona iliensis, is listed as ‘ENDANGERED’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. This small lagomorph is endemic to China, where it has a highly fragmented distribution within a restricted geographical range in the Tian Shan Mountains.
Over the past ten years, the Ili Pika has suffered a dramatic decline, both in terms of its population size and the extent of its range. The exact cause of this decline is not known, but it is speculated that climate change and an increase in grazing pressure are having a negative impact on the species. Furthermore, low population densities and reproductive rates, coupled with a relatively limited ability to disperse, are impeding the ability of the species to recover.
There are no known conservation measures in place for the Ili Pika. Further research needs to be conducted, and the implementation of a recovery plan is vital if this species is to be prevented from becoming extinct.
Geographic Range of the Ili Pika
Credit: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
To learn more about the Ili Pika, click here. Or visit the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ by clicking their logo below.
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