Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications
This weekend, people around the world will celebrate the 2023 Chinese New Year on January 22nd. This year is the year of the rabbit. Lunar New Year is celebrated all over the world, but especially in East Asia, traditions and interpretations are unique as are many cultures celebrating this special day.
Two rabbits live on a family farm at Woodland Park Zoo. Winston, a 10-year-old rabbit, has beautiful mottled tortoiseshell fur that is orange-brown and black. Keaton, 6, is the zoo’s gray-furred Flemish giant rabbit. His breed is one of the largest in the world, with males weighing as much as 15-20 pounds.
Ria Miyamoto is a certified veterinary technician at the zoo. She fell in love with rabbits after meeting them at the zoo many years ago, and she now has four rabbits at home. “Since then, my love for these wonderful little creatures with their big legs and long ears has grown. It’s appreciated,” Miyamoto said.
These cute creatures are so small. In fact, pygmy rabbits grow to just under 12 inches long and weigh only about 16 ounces at their maximum. Female pygmy rabbits are usually slightly larger than male rabbits. Rabbits are grayish in color and become brown in summer.
The pygmy rabbit is the smallest North American rabbit. Conservation efforts are currently underway to restore the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit population pictured. (Katie Lemine/Woodland Park Zoo) |
“Conservation efforts for these rabbits are critical to the survival of this species here in Washington State,” said Living Northwest Conservation Manager Katie Lemine. “I am volunteering in the field in eastern Washington to help restore this species and encourage everyone to learn more about these adorable creatures.”
Since 2001, the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and other organizations have spearheaded a massive effort to save the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits. The partners created a head start program in which the rabbits were bred and released when they were ready to live independently. Over 2,000 rabbits have been released since 2011.
If you haven’t passed the Year of the Tiger, don’t worry. We won’t judge you for showing your stripes to these majestic cats through 2023.