Despite their name, New Zealand Rabbits actually originated in California in 1919 by crossing the American White Rabbits with the Flemish Giant Rabbits and the Angora Rabbits, neither of which hail from New Zealand. How the New Zealand Rabbit actually got its name is sort of a mystery. New Zealand Rabbits were originally bred for meat production, but were quickly found to be useful for many other aspects including fur farming, medical research, show rabbits and as pets. Despite their large size, New Zealand Rabbits have a very calm and friendly disposition, and are one of the most widely sold rabbits in the world.
Colors
New Zealand Rabbits come in five color variants: red, black, blue, white and broken (a mix of at least two colors). While they are all technically of the same species, each color variant has been widely and specifically bred. The white version is indeed albino, characterized by the lack of the melanin pigment, giving them their snow white fur and their bright red eyes.
Size |
The New Zealand Rabbit is a large breed of rabbit. Adults will weigh around 8 pounds on average, but they can reach as large as 12 pounds and nearly 20 inches long. They often live between 5 to 8 years as a pet.