Cross a bunny, a hamster, and a stuffed teddy bear, and you get the Ili pika.

Native to the Tianshan Mountains of northwestern China, the Ili pika was discovered in 1983, and few have shown their squeal-worthy faces since. Now, new camera trap footage gives a rare glimpse into the life of this enigmatic critter.

Growing up to around eight inches, Ili pikas make their homes in the nooks and crannies of their rugged habitat, making it tough for pika-seekers to find them. Add to that their asocial tendencies and camouflaged fur, and it’s no surprise sightings have been scarce.

Then, in 2014 Weidong Li, the scientist at the Xinjiang Institute for Ecology and Geography who had discovered the Ili pika,