International Rabbit Day Date in the current year: September 28, 2024

Rabbits, also known as bunnies, are small mammals that belong to the family Leporidae. They are often confused with hares, who belong to the same family, but there are a number of differences between the two animals. Hares are larger than rabbits and have longer hind legs and longer ears. Newborn rabbits are blind and without fur, whereas hares are born with open eyes and covered in fur. Finally, hares usually live in pairs or alone, while rabbits often live together in large groups.

The most common rabbit species is the European rabbit. Native to Spain, Portugal and parts of France, it has been introduced to all continents except Antarctica. Sadly, its introduction has had severe, sometimes devastating effects on local ecosystems, especially in Australia, where there are no natural predators to control rabbit populations.

The European rabbit is the only bunny species that has been domesticated. More than 300 rabbit breeds have been created through selective breeding. Rabbits are an interesting example of an animal that can be treated as livestock, companion animal or pest in the same culture, depending on the situation and who you ask. As livestock, rabbits are bred for their meat and fur. Some rabbit breeds have been specifically created to be used in animal testing.

International Rabbit Day was founded in 1998 by a UK-based charity that strives to promote rabbit protection and conservation. Its main goals are to raise awareness of rabbits and their role in our lives, as well as to highlight the issue of pet abandonment and encourage responsible pet rabbit ownership. From the United Kingdom, the celebration of International Rabbit Day has spread across the world.

One of the animal welfare organizations that actively support and promote International Rabbit Day is House Rabbit Society, an international non-profit organization that focuses on rescuing abandoned rabbits to give them new loving homes and educating the general public about domestic rabbits and taking proper care of them.

You can celebrate International Rabbit Day by attending an event near you if there is one, organizing an event of your own, reading a book or watching a movie about bunnies, donating to animal welfare organization or your local rabbit sanctuary, and sharing adorable bunny pictures on social media with the hashtags #InternationalRabbitDay and #RabbitDay to promote the holiday.

If you’re a proud bunny owner, give your pet an extra treat on the occasion of International Rabbit Day. And if you don’t own a pet rabbit but have been thinking of adopting one, here’s your incentive to finally do it. Of course, you should do your research first and make sure that you understand the responsibility that owning a pet entails and have enough space, time, money, and other resources.