New Zealand Introduced Animals > Enderby Island RabbitEnderby Island RabbitDomesticated – Of Feral Origin – Rare BreedORIGIN: Enderby Island (Auckland Islands). BREED DESCRIPTION: Moderate in size, Enderby rabbits can weigh up to three kilograms. The majority of Enderby Island rabbits are a distinctive grey colour with an undercoat of dark slate blue. In a small number of cases they may be a beige or cream colour caused by a recessive gene. USE IN NEW ZEALAND: Preservation of the breed. GENERAL: Enderby Island rabbits are descended from rabbits brought to the island from Australia in 1865. One suggestion is that the original rabbits were the French Argente de Champagne breed, this could explain the colouring, however, this theory has no concrete evidence. In 1992 a group of 49 were rescued from the island to establish a breeding population. Until the last two years all the rabbits remained the property of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand with breeding programmes being undertaken by individual caregivers. Some rabbits are now available for purchase by private enthusiasts. |
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