On 3/8, in Genie town, Litang county, Sichuan province, a group of tourists stopped near a pika burrow to admire the scenery. Fang, a woman in the group, took fruit and snacks from the car to feed the animals, placing the bag of food, her phone, and car key nearby.
While everyone was watching the pikas, one suddenly darted out, grabbed the car key, and disappeared down its burrow. After unsuccessful attempts to retrieve the key with a stick, the tourists asked the villagers for help.
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A man attempts to retrieve the car key from the pika burrow. Photo: The Cover |
A man attempts to retrieve the car key from the pika burrow. Photo: The Cover
"While I wasn't looking, the pika stole the food and also took the car key down its burrow right in front of us," Fang said.
Dozens of villagers and tourism volunteers quickly joined the search. They tried various methods, from magnets and wires to basic tools. The village head and party secretary were also present. After 4 hours of continuous digging, the key was pulled out using a strong magnet.
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Villagers join the search for the missing car key. Photo: The Cover |
Villagers join the search for the missing car key. Photo: The Cover
This wasn't the first comical pika incident in Litang. Last month, a tourist had their camera stolen by a pika at the entrance of a burrow, and it hasn't been found.
Local authorities subsequently advised tourists not to feed pikas to avoid the risk of bites and infection.
The story of the key-stealing pika quickly went viral on social media, generating humorous comments. One person wrote, "With a car key and a camera, these pikas are about to start a travel vlog."
Anh Minh (SCMP)
