Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits
are the smallest and among the
rarest rabbits on earth.
Native only to a single area of Washington State, this once isolated population of Pygmy rabbits usually weighs less than a pound in adulthood and was declared extinct in the wild in the '90s, after the remaining 14 bunnies were scooped up and taken into the equivalent of bunny protective custody.
This year the Oregon Zoo
welcomed 26 of the little guys, bringing this year's total to 73 baby
bunnies (kits) among participating breeding facilities. Color is added
to the ears in the pictures below so zoo staff can tell the kits apart.
Can you tell these rabbits apart?
Click here to learn how to identify many different types of rabbits!
Click here to learn how to identify many different types of rabbits!
The Flemish Giant (see video on right) originated in Flanders. It was bred as early as the 16th century near the city of Ghent, Belgium and is believed to have descended from a number of meat and fur breeds, possibly including the Steenkonijn (Stone Rabbit) and the now extinct, European "Patagonian" breed.
This "Patagonian" rabbit, a large breed that was once bred in Belgium and France Thomas Coatoam, in his Origins of the Flemish Giants, tells us, "The earliest authentic record of the Flemish Giant Rabbit occurred about the year 1860."
This "Patagonian" rabbit, a large breed that was once bred in Belgium and France Thomas Coatoam, in his Origins of the Flemish Giants, tells us, "The earliest authentic record of the Flemish Giant Rabbit occurred about the year 1860."
20 Bunny Facts
♥The World’s Largest Rabbit named “Darius” weighs approximately 50
pounds and is currently 4 feet, 3 inches. Although this might sound
unbelievable, “Darius” is indeed a real rabbit that currently lives with
its owner Annette Edwards from the UK. It has been reported that Darius
thinks he is a dog.
♥The “most valuable” rabbit on Earth, “Darius”, is currently insured for around $1.6/million and has his own personal caretaker aka body guard.
♥In the wild some female rabbits can produce about eight litters of bunnies per year.
♥The largest litter of bunnies every reported consisted of 24 kits.
♥Rabbits are natural runners and can reach speeds of up to 30 to 40 mph.
♥Domesticated rabbits that people raise do not open their eyes until they reach about 2 weeks of age.
♥Baby domestic rabbits are actually born fur-less
♥Rabbits have 28 teeth.
♥The World’s oldest rabbit on record lived to be 16 years old.
♥The average lifespan of a domesticated rabbit is around 5 to 8 years.
♥Pet rabbits generally live longer than rabbits used for production and those living in the wild.
♥With the right guidance rabbits can be trained to live indoors perfectly.
♥In the UK the rabbit is the third most popular pet option.
♥The average heart rate of a rabbit ranges between 130-325 beats per minute.
♥It is estimated that over 2 million U.S. households own a pet rabbit.
♥Thousands of rabbit shows take place annually in the Continental United States alone, each year.
♥Male rabbits are referred to as “bucks” and female rabbits are referred to as “does”.
♥Believe it or not, a rabbit’s teeth never stop growing throughout its life.
♥Rabbits can jump up to 36 inches or higher.
♥In general rabbits are very clean animals that will groom themselves and even each other.
♥The “most valuable” rabbit on Earth, “Darius”, is currently insured for around $1.6/million and has his own personal caretaker aka body guard.
♥In the wild some female rabbits can produce about eight litters of bunnies per year.
♥The largest litter of bunnies every reported consisted of 24 kits.
♥Rabbits are natural runners and can reach speeds of up to 30 to 40 mph.
♥Domesticated rabbits that people raise do not open their eyes until they reach about 2 weeks of age.
♥Baby domestic rabbits are actually born fur-less
♥Rabbits have 28 teeth.
♥The World’s oldest rabbit on record lived to be 16 years old.
♥The average lifespan of a domesticated rabbit is around 5 to 8 years.
♥Pet rabbits generally live longer than rabbits used for production and those living in the wild.
♥With the right guidance rabbits can be trained to live indoors perfectly.
♥In the UK the rabbit is the third most popular pet option.
♥The average heart rate of a rabbit ranges between 130-325 beats per minute.
♥It is estimated that over 2 million U.S. households own a pet rabbit.
♥Thousands of rabbit shows take place annually in the Continental United States alone, each year.
♥Male rabbits are referred to as “bucks” and female rabbits are referred to as “does”.
♥Believe it or not, a rabbit’s teeth never stop growing throughout its life.
♥Rabbits can jump up to 36 inches or higher.
♥In general rabbits are very clean animals that will groom themselves and even each other.
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Information and photos on this page, provided by: The American Rabbit Breeders Association Rabbit Breeders Zooborns