Endangered Ili pika spotted in Xinjiang

(ECNS) -- An Ili pika has been spotted by a volunteer team in the mountain areas of Jinghe county, located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Resembling a rabbit and a mouse, the Ili Pika is endemic to Xinjiang and usually lives at high elevations from about 2,800 to 4,100 meters.

This Ochotonidae animal does not hibernate and mainly feeds on rhodiola, snow lotus, and creeping saxifrage.

There are less than 1,000 Ili pika remaining, making them rarer than giant pandas.