Origin
Australia, developed into current form in NZ
Found
Captive in New Zealand
Status
Rare breed in New Zealand
About
Enderby Island Rabbits are descendants of rabbits from Australia who were released onto subantarctic Enderby Island South of New Zealand in 1865. They remained there isolated for almost 130 years and evolved into the rabbit you see today.
The Department of Conservation decided to allow the island to revert to its natural state, and all introduced mammals were removed. A group of 49 Enderby Island Rabbits were taken for breeding in 1992 before the rest were destroyed.
Today there are possibly less than 50 of them left, kept by rabbit enthusiasts around New Zealand, with possibly a few in the USA also.
Gallery
