The Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus) is a species of leporid native to South Asian countries like Nepal, India, Bangladesh and the Himalayan region. The hispid hare prefers tall grass-scrub savanna, in flat, well-drained and thinly forested country. They are relatively smaller than most other hares, prefer to walk rather than hop, and have shorter ears and legs than most species of hares such as the snowshoe hare. This is why they are often called the Assam rabbit, because they resemble the size of rabbits more than hares. They are also called the bristly rabbit because of their coarse, bristly fur.
Hispid hares are most active at dawn and dusk. The hispid hare does not construct burrows but rather takes shelter in surface vegetation or burrows made by other animals. It is described as "slow-moving" by people living in the area where it is found. The hispid hare's diet consists mainly of bark, shoots and roots of grasses, including thatch species, and occasionally crops. They usually have babies from January to March and give birth to a litter of 2 or 3 leverets (baby hares). They usually conceal them in clumps of grass and scatter the scent of them so predators can't spot them.
Hispid hares are one of the worlds rarest and most endangered mammals. This animal was feared extinct in 1964, but in 1966, one was spotted. The range of this animal is much smaller than it once was. There were an estimated 110 hispid hares worldwide in 2001. Due to rapid habitat destruction, lack of success in captivity, and hunting, their numbers continue to shrink. As a result of their rarity, little is known about hispid hares. These animals are threatened mainly due to conversion of their habitat to agriculture and grassland burning. They are often confused with the more common Indian hare and are therefore hunted for food. They are also preyed on by dogs.