A fascinating and little-known member of the hare family that makes its home in some of the most extreme landscapes on Earth. Found across the Tibetan Plateau, Nepal, India, and parts of western China, this hare is perfectly adapted to the cold, windswept, and high-altitude environments where few other mammals can survive. Its name comes from its thick, woolly coat, which provides insulation against the bitter mountain climate. This dense fur, ranging from grayish-brown to sandy hues, also helps it blend seamlessly into rocky terrain, offering camouflage from predators like eagles and foxes. With long ears and powerful hind legs, the woolly hare embodies the classic hare shape, but its adaptations to thin air and freezing conditions make it truly unique.

One of the most remarkable things about the woolly hare is its ability to thrive at elevations exceeding 5,000 meters (16,000 feet)—heights where oxygen is scarce and vegetation is sparse. Few mammals can live so high year-round, but the woolly hare manages by feeding on hardy alpine plants such as grasses, herbs, and shrubs. Like other hares and rabbits, it practices coprophagy—re-ingesting its droppings to extract every bit of nutrition from its fibrous diet, a survival trick that is especially important in its nutrient-poor environment. Its large lungs and efficient circulation also help it cope with the low oxygen levels of the plateau, making it a true specialist of high-altitude living.

The woolly hare tends to be solitary or found in loose groups, unlike rabbits that live in communal burrows. Instead, it relies on speed and camouflage for protection. When threatened, it crouches low to the ground, blending into its rocky surroundings until the last moment, before suddenly sprinting away in zigzag patterns to evade predators. Its agility and explosive bursts of speed are essential defenses in the open landscapes it inhabits.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

China

2018

India

2018

Sikkim, Jammu-kashmir

Nepal

2018