The Oregon Zoo, located in our hometown Portland, OR, has made it their mission to save the endangered Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit population. And with good reason – they’re stupid cute.
The Zoo began breeding pygmy rabbits in 2000. 4 wild-caught rabbits were delivered from Idaho with the question of whether or not pygmy rabbits could be bred in captivity. Zoo staff immediately sprung into action, creating love nests habitats rigged with video cameras to track the bunnies’ behavior patterns.
In 2001, matchmakers’ staff members’ efforts were rewarded when the Oregon Zoo became the first zoo in the world to successfully breed pygmy rabbits.
This month, the Zoo’s 12-year effort to preserve the rabbit population came to a close. On July 19th, the zoo released its last 14 breeding rabbits and their bunny babies into the wild. Zoo staff have been tracking the rabbits, and have nothing but good reports so far – a good sign for the little guys.
(Source: Daily Bunny | Read the fully story @ Oregon Zoo News)
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