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The domestic rabbit, or the common house pet, is part of the wild rabbit family. Unlike its relatives, the domestic rabbit lives in metal or wooden cages. It feeds on carrots, lettuce, and store-bought rabbit pellets. Animals that prey upon the domestic rabbit are humans, alligators, snakes, foxes, bobcats, wolves, dogs, bears, etc. The paws are the most sensitive part of the rabbit's body. If it broke a paw, then it would die. Also, if it didn't get enough liquids, it could die. If a rabbit is faced with danger, it will let out a loud, piercing scream to notify any people around that there is danger. There are many kinds of rabbits. One common one is the dwarf rabbit. It is called this because it is smaller in size than normal rabbits. The domestic rabbits are very profitable. You can use them for shows or sell them. If a rabbit has babies, and you put a male rabbit in the cage, he will be dead within days. The domestic rabbit comes in a variety of colors, from white to pink to brown and even light orange. Its eyes can also be different colors. They can be green, blue, red, or brown. A mother rabbit can have a litter of up to 6-10 babies and can be very protective about her children. |
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When we got to the Utica Zoo, we observed the domestic rabbit and noticed it was a very lazy animal. There wasn't much movement, but when it did move, it was to get up and eat. At the bottom of the cage there was hay, for both comfort and food. We also noticed there was a little red light provided for warmth. The rabbits at the Utica Zoo were not kept in metal or wooden cages, they were in a glass cage that sort of resembled a fish tank. We also noticed that the rabbits were quite heavy looking and thought that it was most likely because of the weather. Also, any move we made, the rabbit seemed to look very alarmed. If we tapped on the cage, the rabbit would run to the back and try to hide. We saw that the rabbits kept each other warm and were possibly trying to protect one another. |
The domestic rabbit's niche is to provide food for other large animals. Without the rabbit, a lot of animals that are very important to our every day lives would die and decompose. The rabbit's habitat is grasslands near water because, as we stated before in the general information, the rabbit cannot live without water to drink and that's the only thing it can drink. The rabbit's habitat can also be in deciduous forests. This is where it can get food and protect itself with camouflage from predators. This is also where it can mate and protect its young. |
In the zoo the rabbit has to adapt to things like the change in its living space, or the change in weather. It also has to get used to the fact that it has to live with another rabbit and the fact that it has artificial warmth. Its diet might have a slight twist from leaves to lettuce and store foods, too. These are all simple little things that wouldn't really hurt the rabbit, but might be a little different. Also, if the rabbit has babies, this animal has to adapt to not searching for food for just itself. Instead, it has to be given to them, too.
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The domestic rabbit doesn't really have a drastic environmental change. It just has a much smaller living space and the diet is slightly different. By comparison, you may notice that it has a much different living area than the regular area it usually has. This difference cannot harm the rabbit, though. When the diet is changed, one would probably think that this would harm the rabbit, when really it doesn't. Its diet of leaves is just replaced with lettuce or store-bought rabbit pellets. Another enviromental change is the rabbit doesn't have warmth from the sun anymore. Now it gets it from a little light at the zoo. |
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"Rabbits." World Book Encyclopedia. 1989 ed. Mr. Roger Cota How to Raise Rabbits. 1990 ed. Rabbits. 1987 ed. The Wonderful World of Rabbits. 1989 ed. Raising Rabbits the Modern Way .1992 ed. All About Rabbits. 1990 ed. |