The Chinese Ili Pika: Mysterious rare Chinese animal faces extinction after people demand for its domestication

Researchers estimate only 1,000 animals from the species remain existing.

The Chinese Ili Pika may be considered extinct in the near future. Famous for their cute and friendly appearance, the Chinese Ili Pika has attracted many, causing their capture and domestication to be highly requested.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - In 1983, conservationist Li Weidong first encountered the Chinese Ili Pika. Since then, Weidong has taken the animal captive for many studies.

Li Weidong believes that there were approximately 2,900 animals living in the Tianshan mountain when the first Chinese Ili Pika was discovered. Currently, after 20 years, the unfortunate demographics, recorded by Li, reveals the population has decreased to only 2,000.

As for the Chinese Ili Pika, he argues that it may be possible only 1,000 of them are left.

In hopes to raise money for the Pikas, the conservationist has published images of them last March. As an unexpected consequence, not only were they able to raise money, but people have increasingly become interested in the Pikas and want to keep them as pets.

Pikas look like teddy bears and for this reason, more and more people want to remove them from the wild and keep them as pets.

Aside from the fact they are now being hunted in the Tianshan mountains in Jinghe County, Li also believes global warming has played its part in the decline of the Pikas' numbers.

Weidong revealed that people are trying to negotiate with him. They've offered huge amount of money under the condition he captures and breeds the pikas in captivity, so they can be then sold as pets.

"Their population is already small enough. Human capture will accelerate the extinction," Weidong stated.

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