Guwahati: The endangered hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus), a rare and elusive species native to the Terai grasslands of India and Nepal, is facing a severe habitat crisis due to increasing human activities and environmental changes, a new study has revealed. Researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Aaranyak, and the University of East Anglia have conducted the first large-scale hierarchical analysis of the species’ habitat selection, offering crucial insights for its conservation.
The study, published in Animal Conservation, highlights that the hispid hare’s distribution is highly fragmented, restricted to small pockets of tall grassland within protected areas (PAs) along the foothills of the Himalayas. The research team, led by Anukul Nath, examined the species’ habitat preferences across multiple scales—from broad landscape patterns to microhabitat selection—revealing a precarious future for this already threatened lagomorph.
Disappearing Habitat
Once believed to be extinct, the hispid hare was rediscovered in 1971 in Assam’s Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary. However, its numbers have continued to dwindle due to extensive habitat loss. The study found that the species is now confined to just five key clusters: Manas National Park, Jaldapara National Park, the Dudhwa-Pilibhit-Suklaphanta landscape, Bardia National Park, and the Chitwan-Valmiki region.
At present, the total suitable habitat available for the species is estimated to be around 300 square kilometres, with over 50% of it concentrated in the Manas landscape. “Manas is the last stronghold for the hispid hare. If conservation efforts fail here, the species’ future in India will be in jeopardy,” said lead author Anukul Nath.
Grassland Fires and Human Footprint
A key finding of the study is the species’ dependence on tall, early successional grasslands, particularly those dominated by Narenga porphyrocoma (syn. Saccharum narenga). However, such grasslands are increasingly threatened by annual burning, cattle grazing, and invasive plant species.
The research revealed a complex relationship between fire intensity and habitat suitability. While controlled, rotational burning can help maintain the grassland ecosystem, excessive fire frequency leads to habitat degradation. Hispid hare populations were found to be highest in areas experiencing moderate fire intensity, while extreme burning events led to a sharp decline in their presence.
Additionally, the study found that human activities significantly impact the species’ survival. The hispid hare was almost absent from areas with high human population density and road networks. Researchers warned that expanding settlements, infrastructure projects, and unregulated livestock grazing are further shrinking the species’ already limited range.
Conservation Urgency
The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies to protect the hispid hare. Researchers emphasize that rotational burning practices should be implemented instead of large-scale complete burning to maintain a suitable mix of grassland stages. Additionally, there is an urgent need to strictly regulate cattle grazing, as overgrazing contributes to habitat degradation, reducing the availability of tall grasslands that the hispid hare depends on.
Another key recommendation is the eradication of invasive plant species, which threaten native grasslands and alter the ecological balance of the Terai region. Invasive species such as Mikania micrantha and Chromolaena odorata outcompete native grasses, reducing suitable habitat for the hispid hare. The researchers also stress the importance of strengthening conservation policies at both national and transnational levels, particularly in relation to hydroelectric projects that significantly alter riverine grassland ecosystems.
The Hispid Hare as an Indicator Species
“The hispid hare is an indicator species of the Terai grasslands. If we fail to protect it, we risk losing an entire ecosystem that supports not just the hare, but also the one-horned rhino, swamp deer, pygmy hog, and Bengal florican,” said co-author Bibhuti Lahkar.
Anukul Nath further explained that grass communities in the Terai region are shaped by river dynamics, making them highly vulnerable to even minor changes in river courses. Evidence suggests that frequent flooding, driven by the unprecedented release of water from barrages, has disrupted the natural succession of grass communities, limiting the hispid hare’s range.
With several hydroelectric projects under consideration, Nath emphasized that it is crucial for both the Bhutanese and Indian governments to recognize the direct and indirect impacts of these developments on the last remaining tall grassland patches, which serve as critical habitats for the hispid hare and other threatened grassland-dependent mammals, including pygmy hog, swamp deer, and hog deer.
Despite its precarious status, the hispid hare has received little conservation attention compared to larger flagship species such as the one-horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal tiger. The researchers call for immediate action to secure the remaining habitat and expand protected area networks to safeguard the species’ future.
The study provides critical data for conservation managers and policymakers, urging them to integrate habitat protection measures into broader grassland management strategies. Without such efforts, India risks losing one of its rarest and most enigmatic species.
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