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BohoBio Bio
Hello, my name in Squeeka, and this is my BohoBio Bio
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Name : Squeeka the ili pika
Scientific Name : Ochotona iliensis Other Name : magic bunny Hometown : Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang province, northwest China Favorite Food : grasses, herbs and other plants found in the mountains Personality : shy, keep to myself but mingle on occasion, active during dawn and dusk hours Best Features : long, warm fur coat, short, stout legs that give me exceptional rock climbing abilities Biggest Concerns : intrusion of livestock farming, climate change Shout out : Li Weidong, ili pika conservationist (retired) |
WHERE I’M FROM ?
I live in the tall mountains of northwest China. I don’t live in the comfy lower parts of these mountains though; I prefer the rocky hillsides above 2,800 meters. It’s cold and windy here, but I don’t mind that at all. My warm fur protects me from the weather. Also, since there are so few plants here, I don’t have to worry about competing with other animals for food, and there aren’t any snakes or other predators here trying to eat me.
MY RELATIVES
Ila pikas are probably the cutest pika species, but there are many other species of pika living in mountainous regions of Asia and western North America. Scientists have found 36 other types of pikas so far. We are all similar in shape and size being small with no tail, short legs and round ears. Rabbits are our more distant relatives, but rabbits have bigger hind legs and hop around while we pikas run around on 4 legs of about equal size.
The Ili pika photographed by Li Weidong
TRAITS & ABILITIES
Ili pikas live in a pretty harsh environment, but we are well suited for survival here. Our round bodies and thick fur help protect us from the cold weather. Our fur is warm enough that we can stay active all winter, so we don’t have to hibernate like our BohoBio buddy the Vancouver Island Marmot. Our short legs and strong claws help us scamper easily around our rocky home. Our keen eyesight helps us find small plants to dine on, and our acute hearing allows us to hear each other and any threatening animals that might come nearby. We don’t make a lot of noise, but we do call out occasionally with squeaky chirps to find each other, defend a territory, warn others about danger, or look for a breeding partner.
The Ili pika photographed by Li Weidong
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PRESENT & FUTURE
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Nobody knew that we existed until a local conservationist, Li Weidong, discovered us in 1983. He then spent decades studying us, and in 2014 he released some really cute photos of us that became a viral sensation. His hope was that artists would use the photos to make cartoon characters of the ili pika to help increase awareness and concern for our survival amongst young people. Our friends at BohoBio are trying to do just that. Currently we are listed as an endangered species with perhaps only 1,000 or fewer individuals left. We are hoping that a global effort to stop climate change and an increased awareness of our plight will bring a solution that protects what’s left of our habitat.
We need your help! Without it, Li Weidong’s photos will be all that remains of the ili pika in the next century. |
