Considered one of the rarest and most elusive rabbits in the world, the Sumatran Striped Rabbit has distinctive dark stripes running down its face and body, tiny rounded ears, and a short tail. They are roughly a similar size to the European Rabbit.

Very little is known about this species, as it has never been studied in the wild. Most information available about it are either educated guesses (based on what we know about other rabbit species), or what has been observed in captivity - which is usually temporary (due to being rescued from the illegal animal trade or similar). They are notoriously difficult to maintain and keep.

What we do know, is that the Sumatran Striped Rabbit is extremely shy and only feeds at night, their diet consisting predominantly of leaves and stalks. Throughout the daytime, they are almost completely motionless, and rest in abandoned burrows dug by other animals.

Thanks to its unusual coat markings, the Sumatran Striped Rabbit is able to blend in perfectly with its habitat. Their habitat lies within the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot (home to at least 13 critically endangered species), and they favour dense montane forests on rich volcanic soil in southwest Sumatra, at altitudes of 600-to-1600 meters (1968.5-to-5249.34 feet) above sea level.

This species is forest-dependent. The biggest threat to the Sumatran Striped Rabbit is deforestation, habitat loss, and fragmentation - as much of its habitat has been taken for agricultural purposes and other development. 

Between 1990 and 2010, Sumatra lost 70% of its total forest cover. The current distribution of Sumatran Striped Rabbits seems to be restricted between Bukit Barisan and Kerinci Seblat National Parks - both of which continue to experience significant encroachment and deforestation within park boundaries. Between 2000 and 2015, they lost 143 km² and 258 km² respectively.

Furthermore, protected areas in Sumatra are increasingly isolated from each-other by habitat loss and development. Individuals may be vulnerable to snares intended for other species too; however, they are not actively hunted, as local people consider their meat to taste bad.

The Sumatran Striped Rabbit was initially thought to be extinct! Only about a dozen museum specimens existed, collected between 1880 and 1916, and there was one confirmed documented sighting in 1972… Then nothing. Surveys were carried out through 1983, 1984, and 1989, failing to find any evidence it still existed. 

Then, in 1998, it was accidentally photographed by a camera trap. In 2006, it was classified by the IUCN Red List as “Critically Endangered”; captured on camera again in 2007; then its IUCN status was later downgraded to “Vulnerable” in 2008. Also in 2008, WWF scientists were lucky enough to happen upon one and take a direct photo of it. 

More recently, a research group from the University Of Delaware found images of the rabbit on their cameras whilst searching for leopards - in Bukit Barisan Seletan. They believe that the rabbit was seen there because this area hasn’t been subject to much pressure from poachers. 

The current IUCN status of the Sumatran Striped Rabbit is “Data Deficient” - presumably because it’s so difficult to find and study in the wild. Despite this, thankfully the species is protected in Indonesia, and it is still considered by many to be the world’s rarest rabbit.

Of course, when we at Eyes On The Wild captured them on camera, we knew we had found something special! It felt like such an amazing achievement for all involved.

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