Woolly Hare

About this species

Size

Head and body 40–58cm; ears 11–16cm; tail 6.5–12.5cm

Weight

2.4–3kg

Diet

Grasses and herbs

Habitat

Montane grassland

Range

Northern Nepal and India, including Sikkim and Ladakh, to western and central China

Litter size

About 3 young a year over two litters

The woolly hare is a medium- to large hare with thick, soft fur that is especially long and curly, giving it a woolly look, and that varies in colour with place from sandy yellow to light brown. It has whitish rings around the eyes and an elongated muzzle, and the largest ears of the Chinese hares. Head and body length is 40–58 cm and weight 2.4–3 kg. The tail is white with a narrow brown-grey stripe on top (Wikipedia, general species account).

It lives in montane grasslands, from the border regions of northern Nepal and India, including Sikkim and Ladakh, to western and central China. It is shy, usually solitary and mostly nocturnal, feeding on grasses and herbs and returning regularly to the same foraging areas, and it rests under shelter by day. The breeding season starts in April, and a female averages three young a year over two litters. Its main predators are birds of prey (Wikipedia, general species account).

Description: Wildlife of India guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)