Hikers' rare encounter with elusive Sumatran rabbit ignites wildlife awe

On warm days in June 2022, another group of hikers trekking through the Sumatran jungle experienced something that rarely happens. Their path crossed with the Sumatran rabbit (Nesolagus netscheri), one of the rarest rabbit species in the world. Only a few reports over the past 50 years have mentioned this mysterious creature that loves the nooks of the forests and comes to the surface only at night, making each of its sightings a unique event.

This species is characterised by dark stripes running through its rusty-brown fur, resembling a watermelon. This rabbit prefers to live in remote, dense forests, making every encounter with it akin to winning a lottery. The special nature of this species also lies in the fact that photographing it is a testament to its great rarity – it is documented extremely rarely, with only a few cases being recorded in recent decades.

The latest sightings, along with the surprising encounter by the group of hikers in 2022, shed light on this mysterious species. Capturing the Sumatran rabbit in photos in 2007 was announced as one of the very few such cases, with previous documentation dating back to 1998 and 2000 from Kerinci Seblat and Bukit Barisan National Parks.

In 2021, this species came back into focus when a farmer caught one of the Sumatran rabbits, injured during a violent flood. Although the animal suffered minor injuries, it was quickly treated and released back into the wild based on data from camera traps. These rare events, combined with comments from experts like Deborah Martyr from Fauna & Flora, highlight the unique nature of the Sumatran rabbit and its hidden presence in jungle ecosystems.

This extraordinary case serves as a reminder of the wonderful biodiversity that still remains to be discovered in the forest recesses of our world. An encounter with the Sumatran rabbit not only underscores the importance of protecting its natural habitat but also inspires further discoveries that may await, hidden in the shadow of tropical rainforest trees. These rare encounters prove that our planet still holds many secrets to uncover, ensuring that nature never ceases to amaze us.