Happy International Rabbit Day! Every year on the fourth Saturday of September, today promotes the protection and care of domestic and wild rabbits.
Who doesn’t love a cute bunny rabbit? These soft, furry lagomorphs are enjoyed by many around the world.
Often used as a symbol of fertility and or rebirth, many associate these adorable animals with spring and Easter.
• There are more than thirty species of rabbits around the world
• The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognizes forty-nine rabbit breeds
• Pygmy rabbits are less than eight inches in length and weight less than one pound
• The largest rabbit in the world was Ralph, a Continental Giant Rabbit from Sussex, United Kingdom. He weighed twenty-five kilograms (fifty-five pounds) and was over four feet tall. In 2010, he was recognized as the world's heaviest rabbit by Guinness World Records™.
• Baby rabbits are not called bunnies; they are kittens or kits
• Fifteen percent of baby rabbits don’t make it to their first birthday
• A female rabbit is ready to have babies at just three months of age
• Rabbits originated from Europe and Africa, but they can now be found all over the world. Wild rabbits live in large groups called colonies. While quite prolific, some species are endangered, the riverine rabbit of South Africa included. None of its ten subpopulations has more than fifty rabbits.
• Many people keep rabbits as pets. Rabbits make good pets for several reasons. They are quiet, easy to housetrain, need little space, and bond well with their owners.
HOW TO OBSERVE
On International Rabbit Day, several chapters of the House Rabbit Society host a variety of events that spread awareness for the welfare of rabbits.
Some events include carnivals with live music and veggie burgers, Bunny Days and Bunnyfests, and educational seminars on rabbit care. Some chapters also hold special events that allow the public to adopt a bunny.
If you want to observe International Rabbit Day, watch a film about rabbits. Some of the most popular movies with rabbits include 'Bambi' (1942), 'Watership Down' (1978), 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit,' (1988), as well as Bugs Bunny cartoons.
If you’re more of a reader, try these books: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1901), The Velveteen Rabbit (1922), and Watership Down (1972).
Consider getting a rabbit for a pet. If you already have one, be sure to give it an extra carrot on this special day.
Share an adorable picture of a bunny on social media. When sharing, use #InternationalRabbitDay.
HISTORY
The first International Rabbit Day was held on the fourth Saturday of September 1998.
It’s believed that International Rabbit Day was first established in the United Kingdom. From there it spread to Australia, and then the rest of the world.
If you own a rabbit(s), how can you show them extra love and attention today?
DATES
September 25, 2021
September 24, 2022
September 23, 2023
September 28, 2024
September 27, 2025
September 26, 2026
September 25, 2027
September 23, 2028
September 22, 2029
September 28, 2030
#InternationalRabbitDay
@houserabbitsociety
@AmericanRabbitBreedersAssociation
@GuinnessWorldRecords
@nichecinema
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