The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

Rationale for assessment: This species is considered
Least Concern as it is widespread, common and
unlikely to be declining at a rate to qualify it for a
more threatened category.
Legal Status
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973). This species occurs within protected areas.
National Population Size
The Indian Hare is considered fairly common with an
estimated population greater than 10,000
individuals, however it is considered to be in decline.
National Distribution
The Indian hare is distributed throughout Nepal, up
to an elevation of 2,500 m.
Distribution outside Nepal
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
Main Threats
• Hunting for subsistence.
• Habitat loss due to over grazing and succession.
• Persecution as a pest species.
References
Inskipp 1988, Flux and Angermann 1990, Suwal and Verheught 1995, Gurung and Singh 1996,
Baral and Shah 2005, Nepal Red List of Mammals Field Technicians Workshop 2010.
96) Lepus oiostolus (Hodgson, 1840)
Common names
Woolly Hare (English); Bhote Kharayo (Nepali)
Species Description
Plumb brown, thick curly fur, pale rump and a tail
that is brown above and off-white below.
Species Ecology
The Woolly Hare occurs in alpine shrub and
grasslands, mountain slopes and meadows. The
diet of this species is predominantly grasses and
herbaceous plants.
Females produce two litters annually with four to six
young per litter.
Conservation Status
Global: Least Concern
National: Least Concern
Rationale for assessment: This species is considered
Least Concern in view of a wide distribution,
occurrence within protected areas and a
population unlikely to be declining at a rate to
qualify the species for a more threatened category.
Legal Status
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973). This species occurs within protected areas.
National Population Size
There is no information available on the population
size of this species in Nepal.
National Distribution
This species has been reported from Dolpa and
Mustang districts, the Annapurna Conservation
Area, Makalu Barun, Shey Phoksundo, and
Sagarmatha National Parks and at elevations
140