REARING OF PLATEAU PIKA (OCHOTONA-DAURICA) CAPTURED IN MONGOLIA

We attempted to rear and breed Plateau pikas (Ochotona daurica) captur ed in Mongolia in 1994 and 1995. In rearing indoors, though coitus was observed, none of the females became pregnant. In rearing outdoors, m ales began to make high-pitched, continuous cries and the first offspr ing (3 newborns) were obtained in June, 1997. The body weight averaged 8.4 g at birth, and 75.8 g at 4 weeks of age. They were weaned at 4 w eeks of age. In August the testes, which had descended into the scrotu m, atrophied. In September, the atrophied testes returned to the abdom inal cavity. These results indicate that breeding of plateau pikas is possible when they are reared outdoors, and they have a specific repro ductive season.