International Rabbit Day 2024: was founded by the organization Rabbit charity in England, with the aim of raising global awareness of the situation of these countries rabbits. This initiative was created in response to the multiple threats these animals faceboth capable wild as domestic.
Rabbits are often used in medical and cosmetic experiments.son victims of indiscriminate hunting j breeding for furbesides the suffering of the destruction of their natural habitat.
Loose rabbits They were domesticated much later than other farm or companion animals. The Romans and Chinese already ate rabbit meatin the year 500 BC. But the domestication of the European rabbit, the Oryctolagus cuniculusbetter known as wild rabbitit took much longer.
It is estimated that this happened only 1400 ago, in the south of France, which together with the Iberian Peninsula native habitat of this species. Apparently they were domesticated in a monastery, because the church considered their meat to be fish. And it was allowed to be consumed during Lent, so the monks began to selectively breed them.
From plate to pet
With time and successive crossings, along with adaptation to the environment, it eventually became one pet. Which turned out not to be alone a friendly and tender furry onebut it is easy to raise. Moreover, it is usually compatible with other pets. And he proves to be an affectionate companion who enjoys spending time with his owners and being the object of cuddles and caresses.
Have one rabbit As a pet it is an excellent choice. And although people believe that they should always be raised as children so that they get used to living in a family, can respond to their name and have a lot of contact with people, we must not forget that it is one of the pets that are most abandoned. So it is always good to consider adopting an adult.
Invasive and also endangered species
He European rabbit It is a species that is in ‘endangered’ status in its natural and native habitat, the paper said IUCN Red List. The cause of several diseases that have decimated their population (and that affects their predators such as the Iberian lynx or some birds of prey).
This happens today because until a few years ago they were considered a pest. Especially for farmers in southern France and Spain (this name comes from Phoenician and means ‘land of rabbits’).
These same rabbits were brought to Australia and other islands in Oceania for hunting purposes. And they managed to reproduce in such a way that they are considered such today the worst of the invasive species that the island continent has to deal with.
There they not only cause significant losses in the agricultural sector. If not, they pose a serious threat to the survival of native species of flora and fauna. Because it competes with many of the local residents for resources. so it ends up reducing the biodiversity.