The European rabbit was also declared endangered for the first time

    Although it may seem strange, the European rabbit living in Spain, Portugal and southern France has been declared as an endangered species by the IUCN.

    He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

    Although it may seem strange, the European rabbit living in Spain, Portugal and southern France has been declared as an endangered species by the IUCN.





    The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a characteristic animal of Spain, but its population has significantly decreased in recent years, so much so that the species has been included in the Red List by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

    It is the first time that this has happened, even if already in 2008 it was included among the threatened species. According to the data, there has been a decline in their population of nearly 70% over the past decade in their natural habitat, namely Spain, Portugal and the south of France.

    Why this death? The main cause is disease. On the one hand, there is myxomatosis, a viral and infectious disease caused by the myxoma virus, belonging to the leporipoxvirus genus, which to date has no real cure and leads the animal to die in about ten days; on the other hand, viral hemorrhagic diseases with a mortality of 90%.

    The European rabbit was also declared endangered for the first time

    But according to the WWF, these are not the only causes that have led the European rabbit towards extinction. Changes in land use and intensive agriculture have changed the structure of the landscape and the habitats on which this animal depends have disappeared. Although the rabbit has a very high reproduction rate, this is not enough to compensate for disease and habitat loss according to experts.

    ⚠️?The rabbit, essential for the #IberianLynx, is now in the "endangered" category of the @IUCNRedList.

    An Iberian rabbit census is urgently needed according to the conclusions of the #JornadasLince ➡️https://t.co/U1wyPu3B5u
    @raulrejon and @eldiarioes https://t.co/l91aEbTazW

    — WWF Large Carnivores (@WWF_GCarnivoros) December 10, 2019

    In addition to being a problem in itself, this decrease in the council population poses other dangers for the Iberian fauna. Nearly 40 species depend on it for food. Indeed, this decline in rabbit populations could be an insurmountable obstacle to the recovery of threatened species, such as the Iberian lynx and the imperial eagle.



    “This situation highlights the need and urgency to find a solution. For this, it is essential to approve an Iberian management strategy ”, explains Ramón Pérez de Ayala, coordinator of large carnivores of the WWF.


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