Ili Pikas, popularly known as “magic rabbits,” are a cute and uncommon mammal on the verge of extinction.

Prepare to fall in love with this adorable rabbit-like species, which you may have never heard of before. Scientists know almost little about these teddy bear-like creatures.

Li Weidong, a conservationist, was found by the Ili Pika in northeastern China in 1983. Ili Pika is the name of the place where it was originally discovered. These lovely critters reside in holes between 2,800 and 4,000 meters above sea level. They are so little, yet they are incredibly powerful in the face of the cold.

Herbs from the Tian Shan Mountains constitute their staple diet. Since their discovery, the population has plummeted by 70%, owing to global warming.

In 2014, the 60-year-old Li, recognizing that no one wants to aid these adorable creatures, decided to lead a team of scientists to investigate Ili Pikas. A total of 20 volunteers made up the squad.

Their mission was to figure out how many species they had and how diverse they were. The creature was dubbed “magic rabbit” by the members of this team. Despite of spending his all money on investigation, he didn’t get response from anyone.

These small animals are on the point of becoming extinct. Authorities or some group should take action to safeguard and research these magnificent creatures; otherwise, people will only be able to view them in photographs.

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