Common names

Bristly rabbit, Assam rabbit, Harsh-furred hare

Distribution

The Hispid hare is found in the foothills of the Himalayas, Northwestern Assam, Bhutan and Nepal.

Habit and habitat

This hare prefers scrub savannah or tall grass regions. When the grasslands are set on fire they move to thinly forested areas or cultivated lands. It is a gregarious animal that occasionally lives in pairs. It is believed to be small and sluggish and does not dig its own burrow.

Physical characteristics

The hare is small and weighs about five pounds. The eyes and ears are small and the hind limbs are shorter and stouter than the fore limbs. The pelage consists of outer fur that is coarse and bristly and the inner fur that is short and fine. The colour of the outer pelage is dark brown with brownish white fur on the under parts.

Food habits

The diet consists of grasses, roots and shoots of thatch species and some cultivated crops.

Threats

IUCN classifies the hispid hare as an endangered mammal. Habitat destruction, hunting for food, grazing, forestry are main reasons that threaten the survival of the species. This hare is now found only in Nepal, India and Bhutan. After the conservation efforts taken up seriously by the organisations they were able to save the presently available 110 hares.

R. Kavitha

C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre

Source: Eco News, Vol. 7, No. 2, July – September, 2001.