Another "mystery species" photographed in the Tianshan Mountains, what is it?

A "mystery species" was photographed again in Tianshan

Some time ago, according to a report in Xinjing Daily, a team of endangered animal conservation volunteers captured the rare Ili rat and rabbit again after eight years in Jipkishan, Jinghe County, Tianshan Mountain. In the video sent back from the scene, we can see several cute creatures that look like rats and rabbits. With big, round ears and eyes like crystal grapes, they lie awkwardly on the rocks, looking curiously at the world. Once the news broke, it quickly generated a lot of buzz among netizens.

Many netizens exclaimed, "This is so cute. The company is a member of the Board of Directors of the United States of America. Some netizens quipped, "I've only seen this thing in Ant Forest. However, what is this mysterious species that looks like a rabbit and a mouse? Why is it so rare and difficult to survive? The usual rules, like, follow and the curator will bring you up to date with the latest information.

The Ili rat is neither a rat nor a rabbit, but a mountain mammal belonging to the rat family. It has a delightful appearance, with ears covered in caricatures and a smooth coat of fawn, grey-brown and light red. , with brown markings on its head. Although it looks plump, it is only fluffy, not fleshy, and weighs less than half a pound.

So why are they so "elusive"?

In the summer of 1983, Li Weidong, a researcher working on plague control, went to Yili to investigate the natural sources of the plague. Once Li Weidong was watching carefully between the cliffs when suddenly a small furry creature scurried out. Although it was only for a moment, Li Weidong realized that the little creature had never appeared before, so he stayed where he was to "wait for it". Sure enough, he finally waited for this little creature.

Fate is so wonderful. After collecting the data, Li Weidong made several trips to the Girimara Mountains to do in-depth research and even found his friend at the Chinese Academy of Sciences to study it together. Two years later, he finally confirmed this new species. The two of them were excited to name them "Yili Rats" after the place where they were found in Yili. The Ili rat-rabbit is extremely rare and is a Grade II protected wild animal, on a par with macaques, rabbits, and lynx. The last time they were seen by humans, leaving clear pictures of them, dates back to 2014 and they are still found in the Tianshan Mountains. According to statistics, there are less than 1,000 of them left in the world, and they all live in the Yili region of China, which makes you wonder why they are so rare and difficult to survive.

Why is the Ili sage grouse so rare and difficult to survive?

The reason why the Ili rattle is so difficult to breed on a large scale has to do with their habits. The Gili Malay Mountains, where they were first found, have disappeared, and most of the surviving ones are in the Gipk Mountains, not far from it. The daily life of the Ilian sage grouse is very fussy about food. Comparisons can be made with the little gods who drink fairy dew, such as golden lotus, Tianshan snowdrops, and Rhodiola. These precious herbs, which in fairy tales can bring life back to the dead, are all part of their diet. People used to joke that "you can't say you're not justified unless you're immortal". Who gave them an innate advantage?

The Ili rattle lives in the high-altitude Tianshan Mountains. In the winter the climate is extremely cold and the vegetation cover is greatly reduced and flooded with snow and ice. At this time, the non-hibernating Ili Sage Grouse have to rely on food reserves for the winter, and their survival rate is extremely low due to picky eating, harsh conditions, and inbreeding.

In addition to environmental factors, human factors have also had a significant impact on the Ilium sage-grouse. With human exploitation and environmental changes, snowdrops and Rhodiola are becoming increasingly scarce and food is paramount, without which they naturally cannot grow on a large scale. On the other hand, the Ili sage grouse is also hunted by natural predators such as the Tibetan fox and stone marten, and those that don't get eaten are eaten by other fierce animals. Who can dispute this? The Ili rattle is also active in the Tianshan pastoral area, where man-made animals such as cows and sheep pass by without leaving grass, breaking the balance of the ecological chain and indirectly causing survival problems for the Ili rattle.

So, what do we do in the face of an increasingly hostile environment and increasingly rare species?

A while ago, the "king of Chinese freshwater fish", the Yangtze River white sturgeon, was officially declared extinct, leaving people feeling powerless and heartbroken. Humans have had a profound impact on the environment and there is still much to be done to respect species diversity and protect the environment. The extinction of the Yangtze sturgeon is a wake-up call that we must not let such a lovely Ilium sturgeon repeat the same mistake. Fortunately, scientists have been delving into the conservation of the Ili Sage Grouse by establishing the Ili Sage Grouse Nature Reserve. Volunteers take turns to guard and observe and learn with infrared cameras; relevant animal protection laws are being improved and appropriate attempts are being made to expand populations in captivity, and media workers are using the internet to spread knowledge to the public.

But the protection of endangered animals is not the responsibility of some people but is closely related to every one of us. Maintaining a balance between protecting the environment, proper waste disposal, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, banning hunting, and sensible grazing... The earth is not only for humans, and green sustainability is the long-term solution. Don't let regrets happen again and again.

At the end of the program, what do you think of the "Ili rattle", which was filmed in the Tianshan Mountains again after many years? Feel free to comment in the comments section!