Wild Rabbit

Facts

IUCN NEAR THREATENED (NT)

Facts about this animal

The wild rabbit is one of the smaller leporid species. Head-body length ranges from 34-45.5 cm, tail length from 4-8 cm, hind foot length from 6.5-7 cm, and the body weight from 1.3 to 2.2 kg.

The wild rabbit has relatively short ears with an indistinct black rim only at the tip. Like all lagomorphs, it has four sharp incisor teeth (two in the upper, two in the lower jaw) that grow continuously throughout its life, and, in the upper jaw, two peg teeth behind the incisors. The hind feet are large, the soles with a thick padding of fur, with long, webbed toes.

The fur is soft; the upper parts grey-brown in colour, usually lighter around the eyes. The under parts are paler grey. The upper side of the short, fluffy tail is dark grey-brown, the sides and under side are white. Wild rabbits are social and territorial animals, living in groups of usually six to ten adults of both sexes and their offspring in large, complex burrow systems called warrens. They are most active at dawn and dusk.

Dominant males may have a harem of several females, whereas lower-status individuals often form monogamous pairs. Wild rabbits may reproduce all year-round, but most breeding activity takes place in the first half of the year. After a pregnancy of about 30-31 days, on average a litter of 5 to 6 young are born, which are naked and blind at birth (“Nesthocker”). The female visits the nest for only a few minutes each day to nurse her offspring. The young are weaned at four weeks of age, and attain sexual maturity at about eight months. The females experience postpartum estrus and thus may have several litters per year, though spontaneous abortions and resorption of embryos are common.

Wild rabbits are mixed-feeders, grazing and browsing on grass, herbs, and branches and leaves of wooden plants.

Did you know?
that rabbits are extremely prolific creatures, and spread rapidly under suitable conditions? In 1859 24 rabbits were introduced to Australia. Within ten years of introduction, they had multiplied so much that two million could be shot or trapped annually without having any noticeable effect on the population.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	LAGOMORPHA
Family	LEPORIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Oryctolagus cuniculus
Name (English)	Wild Rabbit
Name (French)	Lapin de garenne
Name (German)	Wildkaninchen
Name (Spanish)	Conejo común
Local names	Croatian: Patuljasti kunic Czech: Králík divoký Danish: Vildkanin Dutch: Konijn Hungarian: Üregi nyúl Italian: Coniglio selvatico Polish: Królik europejski Portuguese: Coelho-europeu Rumansh: Cunigl selvadi Turkish: Avrupa ada tavsani
CITES Status	Not listed
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Thermos

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Originally Southern Europe (Iberian Peninsula and France). Due to translocations now widely distributed in Europe. Introduced populations in other world regions, e.g. in the United States, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Habitat	Dunes, thickets, forests, meadows, gardens, parks, gravel pits, railway embankments etc.
Wild population	Unknown, but declining (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population	The figures for Oryctolagus cuniculus reported to ISIS may include domestic rabbits. Wild rabbits are relatively rarely kept.

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 79 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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Photo Copyright by
Lordnikon

Why do zoos keep this animal

Zoos keep the wild rabbits for educational reasons because it is the ancestor of the domestic rabbit and for comparing it with the brown hare. The two species have completely different lifestyles and reproduction patterns.

How this animal should be kept

Wild rabbits are kept in predator-proof outdoor enclosures or aviaries. The minimum surface for a group of five adults is 20 m², for each additional animal 2 m² more must be provided.

The bounds of the enclosure must be so designed as to minimise the risk of injury. Rabbits are fast runners and, in particular, in larger enclosures there is a risk of the animals breaking their neck when scared.

The soil of the enclosure should be well drained. Either artificial dens must be provided or the rabbits must be allowed to dig their own burrows. Rabbits do not feel comfortable if there is no cover. Therefore, the enclosure should be furnished with shrubs, small trees, logs and rocks.

The diet consists primarily of green fodder, hay, and vegetables. In addition branches should be offered for wearing the teeth.

Wild rabbits can be kept in mixed exhibits e.g. together with gallinaceous birds, pigeons or doves, small owls and passerines, or with ungulates such as roe deer, fallow deer or wild sheep.