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Each year there are a variety of efforts to dissuade people from taking rabbits as pets around Easter.

So, I pondered the issue and thought that a good replacement activity would be to teach people to support the conservation efforts of endangered rabbit species.

Indigenous rabbits are important to the ecosystem but releasing rabbits into the wild means that non-native species pose a danger to the ecosystem they are released into.

In fact, rabbits as an invasive species have created severe problems on Maritius, in Australia and in many other locations.

Check out this invasive species list (PDF).

Rabbits are a sensitive sort and some of the most endangered species of rabbits include:

• Brazilian rabbit (Sylvilagus) Brazil
• Volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) Mexico
• Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) Japan
• Riverine Rabbit Group (Bunolagus monticularis) South Africa
• California brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius) USA
• Pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) USA
• Sumatran Rabbit (Nesolagus netscheri) Indonesia

Rabbits are know as lagomorphs and National Geographic did a nice summary on Easter Icon Survival Woes a few years ago.

The decreasing numbers of any species usually have alarming impacts most people miss.

For instance the European rabbit population threatens the Critically Endangered Iberian Lynx and the Spanish Imperial Eagle since both predators rely on the lagomorph species.

From the IUCN:
The European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was introduced to Western Europe by man as early as the Roman period, and since then to South America and Australasia. Only Spain, Portugal and areas of North Africa are its native homeland.

Ironically, it is from these areas that over-hunting, habitat loss and eradication programmes have combined with two diseases (Myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Virus), to threaten the European Rabbit’s very existence. The survival of the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) and Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) are pivotal on the success of the rabbit, which is a main source of prey for these emblematic predators.

In the 2008 update of The IUCN Red List the conservation status of the European Rabbit was uplisted to Near Threatened across the whole of its native range.

“It is hoped that these reclassifications can help pressure governments and conservation organisations to do more to conserve the species, and also help change the view of rabbits from being predominantly a pest to also being a vitally important component of native ecosystems.” Dan Ward, spokesperson for SOS Lynx

People sometimes miss just how important some species are and how other animals are dependent on the them.

I’ve been fortunate to work with a variety of endangered species–and while I was at the Durrell Trust I was able to work with the volcano rabbit which is found on only four Volcanic hillsides in Mexico.

The problem with many species is that they are difficult to conserve and to breed in captivity–and the volcano rabbit was no exception.

What can you do?

It is hard to locate specific conservation program to support but I always encourage that action.

• Support the Durrell Trust or the Wildlife Trust International since they always work with endangered species on a global level and have a conservation network like no other.
• Help discourage live Easter bunnies by donating to the House Rabbit Society.
• Purchase Make Mine Chocolate Campaign Mechandise here or check out the options at the UK Make Mine Chocolate.

Other Rabbit Stuff to Explore

World Lagomorph Society

USDA National Agriculture Library Rabbit Links (Care, Farming, Welfare, and more)

World Rabbit Science Association (related to rabbit farming and produces the World Rabbit Journal)

Rabbit Journals (also related to commercial interests)

Do you have a rabbit conservation source you can recommend? If so, leave your comment below.

Above is an awesome video of the presentation by Nalini Nadkarni from earlier this year.

Nadkarni is passionate about the rainforest canopy biome and is reaching out with science, dance, and other art.

Artists and musicians visit the canopy and leave with new inspiration that takes the canopy out into areas and to people Nadkarni would never reach normally.

As a result many outreach programs have sprung up around this project.

Music inspiration, new clothing line creations, moss projects, new environmental projects in prisons, and many other innovative ideas.

My favorite so far–gotta be TreeTop Barbie–it is about time someone helped to make her a modern woman and plant some new ideas.

TreeTop Barbie was designed to inspire youth - especially young girls - to become aware of the field of the forest canopy. She is a real Barbie doll, but wears hand-tailored clothes that are modeled on real field clothes and climbing gear, including a field guide to canopy plants and animals (both Barbie- and human-sized). The TreeTop Barbie package includes the doll and a personal letter from Barbie about forests and their importance to people.

If you want to check out a few other websites related to the rainforest and Nadkarni check out the Eco Lab, the Forest Canopy Lab at Evergreen State, the International Canopy Network,  or if you want to become a research ambassador fill out the application.

Recently a private primate owner decided to post on one of the lists I belong to.

The request was for someone to write on the positive aspects of primate ownership.

Is there such a thing?

Most of us involved in professional work with animals don’t think so.

So although there might be exceptions to the rule–most of us don’t think there are many.

Why?

There are at least sixty primate sanctuaries struggling to deal with the private primate pet issue and then there are the zoos who consistently get calls from people asking them to take their “pet _____.” (Just insert about any species of primate or wild animal you want.)

Anyway, I pondered the issue of how an article would be a disservice to any primate species because those who support private ownership would use it to market the idea that primates are good pets.

Most of you already know that I don’t support the ownership of wild animal pets.

People have trouble enough managing their dogs and cats!

Then it happened. Someone posted a pretty rational reply but the private owner came back swinging.

To get away from the brewing debate another professional had this to say:

“…Most people on this list would see this argument primarily as an ethical one - primates simply should be in the wild because they are intelligent animals with rich and complex social lives, they have an important ecological role to play in their native habitats, and they are amazingly inspiring animals who deserve to be respected on their own terms, and in their own environment…”

Well said.

There are always positive and negative examples of animal management at any place housing animals. It doesn’t matter whether or not it is a zoological facility, private sanctuary, animal rescue organization, or a private home.

However, the ethical principle for most professionals is this statement shared with the list:

A wild animal is not a pet for humans, and whether or not you can successfully make it into your pet is irrelevant, you should not try.

Enough said…but leave your thoughts below.