



Rabbits are much more than the cute, fluffy, carrot-munching animals pop culture makes them out to be. While puppies and kittens are great, bunnies make owning a pet seem simple and fun. These creatures come in a variety of breeds and sizes, but going by the animal shelter can give you some knowledge as to what types of rabbits are available for adoption. They can be complex creatures animals with many traits and characteristics, so we have put together thirteen facts to help you learn about your furry pet.





The oldest rabbit

According to Guinness, the world’s oldest rabbit on record was Flopsy, a wild rabbit caught on August 6, 1994. Flopsy lived to be 18 years and 10.75 months in Longford, Tasmania, Australia at the home of L.B. Walker. Currently, a miniature grey rabbit from Silver Run, Maryland named Heather is the oldest living rabbit at age 16. Jennifer Russell adopted Heather on 1995 with papers recording the rabbit was 2 years old.





The longest and biggest bunny

At 4 ft 3 in (129 cm) long and 22.2 kg (28.94 lbs), a Flemish giant rabbit named Darius sets the record for being the longest and biggest rabbit in the world. His owner, Annette Edwards of England UK took the measurement on April 6, 2010. However, Darius may not hold the title for much longer because there’s a new pretender - his son, Jeff who is about 3 ft 8 in long and still growing.





The highest and the longest jumper

A Danish rabbit named Mimrelunds Tösen, Dutch for the Lassie of Quivering Grove, achieved the world record for the highest rabbit jump on June 28, 1997. Hailing from Herning, Denmark and owned by Tine Hygom, the black and white rabbit earned the title by jumping 99.5 cm (39.2 in) high and was a member of Aase Bjerner's rabbit club in Horsens, Denmark.

On June 12, 1999, the long jump record was set by another Danish rabbit named Yabo handled by Maria Brunn Jensen. Yabo hopped an amazing 3 m (9 ft 9.6 in) in Horsens, Denmark.





The longest fur on a rabbit

Franchesca, an English Angora rabbit, has the longest fur measuring 36.5 cm (14.37 in) in length taken on August 17, 2014 in Morgan Hill, California. Dr. Betty Chu who is Franchesca’s owner says that her rabbit often gets mistaken for a Pekingese dog and needs a great deal of grooming and care.





The rabbit with the longest ears

The record belong to Nipper’s Geronimo, an English lop owned by Waymon and Margaret Nipper of Bakerfield, California, USA. Nipper’s Guinness, the rabbit’s nickname, has ears that measured 79 cm (31.125 in) long in a complete span taken on November 1, 2003 at the American Rabbit Breeders Association National Show in Wichita, Kansas, USA. While the width of his ears measured 18.4 cm (7.25 in) at the widest point. The tortoiseshell-colored buck was born on May 10, 2003 and passed away on 2006.





The bunny with the most basketball slam dunks

Bini the Bunny is a Holland lop, which is considered a dwarf breed. But the basketball-playing rabbit hopped into the Guinness World Records by achieving 7 slam dunks in one minute, on October 31, 2016. Originally born in Israel on March 21, 2012, the hoop-loving bunny now lives in Los Angeles, California, with his owner and trainer, Shai Asor. At first, Shai taught Bini simple tricks such as standing and spinning, but when he learned that his bouncy bunny knows how to play ball, he set him up with his very own basketball court.





A bunny’s optimum temperature

A rabbit’s normal body temperature range falls between 38.5-40°C which is higher than that of a human. While the ideal environmental temperature for a rabbit is 15-21°C and because rabbits are unable to sweat or pant, and cannot dissipate heat efficiently, higher environmental temperatures can lead to hyperthermia that can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.





Carrots are bad for your pet bunny

Among the best-known images in cartoon history is the representation of Bugs Bunny chewing a carrot, but in fact root vegetables are bad for rabbits. In the wild, rabbits munch on greens like weeds, grasses, and clovers and don’t naturally eat root vegetables. Carrots and apples are high in sugar and contribute to tooth decay and digestive problems in 11 percent of pet rabbits so they should be an occasional treat. Others such as cereals, fruits, and iceberg lettuce can be dangerous for them.





Bunnies have a reputation for fertility

The female rabbit, known as a doe, can start reproducing as young as four months old. After being pregnant for 30 days, a rabbit may give birth to a litter of 4 to 12 baby bunnies. During their lifetime, a doe can have 800 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Another fact is that rabbits that have been sterilized can live 10-12 years - up to 4 years longer than those that haven’t been spayed or neutered. Does who haven’t undergone the procedure have an 80 percent higher chance of acquiring reproductive cancer.





Baby rabbits are called “kittens”

Most of us call them bunnies but the right term for baby rabbits is kittens or kits but originally rabbit was the name for the young of the coney. An adult female is known as a doe while an adult male is called a buck.





A single rabbit is a lonely bunny

Rabbits are social creatures and are happiest in the company of their own species. The best combination is a neutered male and neutered female. They can become extremely sad and depressed if kept on their own





Rabbits “binky” when they’re happy

The happiest expression of a rabbit is commonly called a binky. People unfamiliar to pet rabbits may not know that bunnies have this very dramatic way of expressing excitement and joy. Leaping in the air, contorting and twisting their bodies, and kicking their feet out, binkying rabbits are adorable.

Bunnies make fascinating pets. If you've ever had a cat or a dog, then you know that having a pet is a bold responsibility and commitment to care for that animal for the rest of its life. Pet bunnies can be adorable and energetic, making them great companions for children and adults alike. So why don’t you go and adopt a bunny now and make your life brighter!



