I haven't named this new bunny yet. I need to get to know her a little better first. Little No Name here is an American Chinchilla rabbit -- not to be confused with the rodent known as the Chinchilla lanigera, which you frequently find in pet stores. The lanigera type is of South American origin, and is highly prized for its fur . No doubt, the chinchilla rabbits got their name because of their similar soft, thick gray fur.
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is adding rabbits to its conservation mission, and their 2006 proposed placements list includes 10 breeds. The American Chinchilla rabbit breed falls into the 'critical' category. This means there are fewer than 200 annual registrations of the breed in the United States and an estimated global population of less than 2000.
Two days ago, I was fortunate to acquire a young breeding trio from the only known American Chinchilla breeder in Missouri. They're gorgeous rabbits with incredibly luxurious fur, beautiful eyes, and a sweet, gentle nature. They're much easier to handle than my slightly neurotic New Zealand Whites.
Photo by LauraP
1 comment:
Oh how pretty! We want to get rabbits one of these days. My aunts used to raise them.
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