Need a Bit More Than Magic

Angelina Xu Need A Bit More Than Magic Need A Bit More Than Magic More than twenty years after last spotting the “magic bunny”—nicknamed for its skillful disappearing tactics—conservationist Li Weidong hikes up a rocky mountain in northwestern China, unsure if the scouting of the small mammal will once again render futile. But on the second day, a small shadow darts across the rocks and disappears. Immediately forgetting to breathe, he swiftly sets up the cameras, waiting for the shadow to reemerge. Suddenly, a furry head with two bunny ears pokes out of the crevice in the mountain, staring directly at Li. Click. It’s July 9th, 2014, and the Ili Pika has finally been sighted and photographed for the first time since the 1990s. Ochotona iliensis First seen by Li Weidong in 1983, the Ili Pika ( ) was declared a new species two years later. In the following decade, Li conducted a number of censuses on the Pikas, but when he left to work at the Xinjiang Academy of Environmental Protection in 1992, they were forgotten for a decade. Finally, in 2002, Li returned to take a fresh census of the Ili Pika population. However, after 37 days of searching, Li did not spot any Pikas—only their droppings and snow tracks. Then, in 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the Ili Pika as an endangered species. Not widely known, the Ili Pika is considered one of the most endangered species in the world and is endemic to the Tianshan mountain range in Xinjiang, China. There are only 29 confirmed sightings of the Ili Pika, and its population has dropped to less than 1000, approximately 70 percent less than its original population when Li Weidong first discovered the 1 Angelina Xu Need A Bit More Than Magic species in the 1980s. The Pikas also disappeared from 9 of the 14 spots where they were once regularly observed in Xinjiang. So what caused this drastic drop in population? One reason is global warming. Pikas prefer to live in cool climates, and like other species that live in alpine habitats, they are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment. Thus, even slightly higher temperatures can affect them greatly. Additionally, steadily rising temperatures are destroying the Ili Pikas’ habitat. Their habitat size has shrunk by 70 percent since 1992 due to the melting of the permanent snow on the Tianshan mountains. This forces them to retreat to higher altitudes to inhabit places with cooler temperatures. Originally, the Ili Pika lived at elevations between 3,200 and 3,400 meters, but now it lives at elevations of approximately 4,100 meters. If this trend continues, the Pikas will eventually have nowhere else to retreat, putting the population in grave danger. Furthermore, the Ili Pika suffers from air pollution. Xinjiang, the region that the Pika lives in, has six of China’s ten most polluted cities because factories in China are moving west to avoid the strict green policies being enforced in the east. Although China has made strides to reduce pollution, moving these factories to other regions in the country does not solve the problem, notably harming the many species that are endemic to these areas. Air pollution does not recognize borders either. In addition to the factories in the immediate proximity, deleterious chemicals from other countries also drift to the Pikas’ habitat. The advent of these fossil fuel-burning machines increases the number of harmful gases and chemicals released into the atmosphere, and long-term exposure to these toxic pollutants may drive the Ili Pika to the brink of extinction. Additionally, among the gases emitted from factories are carbon dioxide and methane, two major gases that contribute to global warming. This creates a destructive feedback 2 Angelina Xu Need A Bit More Than Magic loop because as climate change exacerbates, increased temperatures also worsen another form of air pollution: smog. These major threats will not only continue to melt the Ili Pikas’ habitat, but will also continue to contaminate their environment, endangering the species further. Moreover, the iconic picture of the Pika that Li took in 2014 went viral, bringing it global fame, but also endangerment. But why would this harm the Ili Pika? Wouldn’t it help in conservation efforts? Not necessarily. When people saw this adorable, fuzzy creature, they tried to catch it to raise as a pet. However, the Ili Pika cannot survive at low elevations without special facilities. In addition to losing a chance to breed more offspring, Li also explains, “The Ili Pikas all live on isolated mountaintops, so their habitats are highly fragmented. Losing even one is detrimental for the entire group.” Lastly, there are no conservation groups protecting the Ili Pika. Although China recently recognized the species as endangered, there are no official organizations dedicated to protect it. Over the past three decades, Li has funded the research himself and occasionally received donations and grants from other organizations to support his investigations. In that span of time, Li spent $32,000 of his own money to study and protect the Pika population. But this is not nearly enough. In comparison, raising one Giant Panda alone can easily cost over one million dollars per year, and after a decade of protecting the panda, its population has only increased by 17 percent. However, this conservation effort can also be considered successful because in some cases, an endangered species does not recover, despite having the proper resources and care. Thus, without the protection of a conservation group, it is even more unlikely for the Pika population to rebound, especially with the worsening conditions of habitat loss and pollution. To make matters worse, even Li will not be able to protect them in the future. He expresses, “I’m 3 Angelina Xu Need A Bit More Than Magic almost 60, and soon I won’t be able to climb the Tianshan Mountains. So I really hope that an organization will have people study and protect the Ili Pika.” Despite their dwindling numbers, the Ili Pika population still has hope to recover. The burning of fossil fuels in factories causes air pollution and climate change, the driving factors behind the Pika’s endangerment. In response, we can force businesses to reconsider their ecological footprints by boycotting their products. Although one person may not be able to compel a company to reduce its carbon footprint, that person can inspire others to do the same through the use of social media. Social media has expanded rapidly throughout the world and plays a dominant role in almost everyone’s life. The Internet could unite protesters from across the world with the simple press of the send button. These mass movements could promote massive changes and ultimately save the Ili Pika population. Social media can also inform the public about the Ili Pika and create awareness. When the picture of the Pika first went viral in 2014, its endangerment was not properly emphasized. People viewed them as adorable animals that they could raise as pets, not knowing the danger of displacing the Pika from its environment. Instead, we should use the Internet to inform the public about the threats to the population and offer ways to help. However, this does not mean that we should omit the Pika’s endearing pictures, for they can arouse the public’s empathy and potentially save the Ili Pika population from extinction. Finally, the Ili Pika requires the attention and professional care of wildlife conservation experts, as they have not been recognized by any official organization before. Aside from the research that Li Weidong conducted, the species has not been investigated in detail before. We 4 Angelina Xu Need A Bit More Than Magic can only protect the Pika and counter the threats if we thoroughly know the factors that endanger the species. Therefore, we must contact these organizations to provide help for the Pikas. Aside from the Ili Pika, many other endangered species also remain unprotected. In fact, more than 300 critically endangered species and 237 endangered species have no protection at all. This unequal spending of the conservation budget leaves many species vulnerable, and it is our responsibility to protect these animals because their endangerment is caused by our destruction of their habitat. But the major concern is the lack of money and resources. However, in the past years, crowdfunding has rapidly gained popularity across the Internet as a method of fundraising. Due to the vast number of people who have access to the Internet, every person can contribute so we can save these endangered species. In conclusion, understanding the risks imposed on the Ili Pika population—including climate change, air pollution, and human disturbance—is vital for the recovery of the species. Although the Ili Pika is dubbed the “magic bunny,” the “magic” that allows it to disappear is actually the destruction we have done to the environment. But for the species to return, more than magic will be needed. Conservation efforts are crucial for the protection of the Pika, but other species demand the care as well. Together, we can reverse the destruction we have done to the planet and its inhabitants through social media and crowdfunding. Otherwise, the animals that share our home will not only vanish temporarily, but for eternity. 5 Angelina Xu Need A Bit More Than Magic Works Cited Arnold, Carrie. “Unbelievably Cute Mammal With Teddy Bear Face Rediscovered.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 19 Mar. 2015, news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/150319-china-ili-pika-animals-conservation-scien ce-rare-species/. Braxter, Tom. “5 Species Bouncing Back from the Brink of Extinction.” Greenpeace East Asia, 4 Mar.

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