Population of a tiny mammal species known as the Ili pika, which is a native to a remote region of China is a member of an endangered species, says conservationist Li Weidong.

There are less than 1,000 of these teddy bear-like creatures living in the Tianshan mountain range in the in the Xinjiang region of northwestern China.

Li found that pika, which is formally known as Ochotona iliensis, in 1983. Li named the creature after his hometown Ili.

In 1983, when pikas were first discovered no one knew about the mammal. But two years later, Li found another two creatures from the species and they declared them a new species.

Li spotted and photographed this elusive creature in last July for the first time since the early 1990s. As per Li’s estimation the population of this creature has declined by almost 70% since it was first discovered.

“I discovered the species, and I watched as it became endangered. If it becomes extinct in front of me, I'll feel so guilty”, Li told CNN.

The animal species was listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. But as of now no official organization or team has come across that has been studying or protecting the creature.

The mammal, is only 20 centimeters long, lives on sloping bare rock faces and feeds on grasses at high elevations, said Li.

According to estimations given by Li, pika’s habitat has been affected by global warming. Due to rise in temperature, glaciers have receded and altitude of permanent snow has increased in the Tianshan mountains. This climatic change forced pikas to gradually retreat to mountain tops.

Ili pikas were originally found at elevations between 3,200 to 3,400 meters, he said. But now the mammals have retreated to elevations of 4,100 meters, Li added.

Some fatal disease can also be the cause behind tremendous decline in pikas population, Li said.