Diversity

About Enderby Island RabbitsAbout Enderby Island Rabbits




The breed of rabbits known as Enderby Island or just Enderby are descendants of rabbits taken from Australia and released onto subantarctic Enderby Island in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand, group early in October 1865. Here they engendered a rabbit population which was to remain in isolation for nearly 130 years.

A breeding group of 49 rabbits was removed from the Island in September 1992.

Most Enderby Island rabbits are a distinctive silver-grey in color with an undercoat of dark slate blue. Their heads, ears and tails are much darker - often being black. This unusual coloring has led to a suggestion that the original animals released were the French Argente de Champagne breed (Champagne Silver), but there is no hard evidence to support this assumption - although it was widely believed until recently, when it has been suggested that the original rabbits the were released are more likely to have been British Silver Greys.

As well as the silver-grey rabbits, a very small percentage is born cream or beige-colored, a shade produced by a recessive gene.

Enderby Island rabbits are of a moderate size and weigh around two kilograms.

For several years all animals remained the property of the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand with breeding program being undertaken by individual caregivers. Some animals are now available for purchase by private enthusiasts. Some have been exported to North America.

Content and Photo Source: New Zealand Rare Breeds (www.rarebreeds.co.nz ).

Enderby Island Rabbits Associations

American Rabbit Breeders Associations, Inc. American Rabbit Breeders Associations, Inc. - www.arba.net