UPDATE: Boskruin bunnies doing better
BOSKRUIN – A domesticated rabbit colony under threat from human isolation is doing better after community assistance.
Conservation efforts for the domesticated rabbit population surrounding the Boskruin koppie is on track after donations, both physically and monetary, have poured in from the community.
So far, thanks to the heartfelt donations from the public to the animal care organisation The Strawberry Foundation, efforts have raised enough money to sterilise and treat over 80 rabbits.
The Randburg Sun previously reported in the article Operation rabbit rescue, Week ending 27 July, that the growing rabbit and rock dassie colony faced a crisis after a housing complex in the area threatened to cut off their human support and interaction by erecting a rabbit proof fence.
READ: Boskruin bunny colony under threat from rabbit proof fence
Over the past week, almost 100 adult and baby rabbits were carefully trapped with food, to be either sterilised or rehomed afterwards by helpful community members.
Strawberry Foundation’s Jenny Janse van Rensburg said, “We are so thankful for all the help we have received to take care of these bunnies. People even as far and wide as England, Canada, and the Philippines donated to help in this conservation effort.
“What we have discovered is that there are way more bunnies than we thought, and there is a colony of approximately 300 domesticated bunnies across the Boskruin koppie and park.”
According to Janse van Rensburg, the rabbits move between complexes and houses in the area to survive.
“We have received a few complaints from concerned residents worried that the colony is a wild and natural colony, but through our extensive research and experts on hand assisting us, we can confirm that these are definitely domesticated rabbits and not wild hares. Their main sources of food have been coming from the community surrounding it.”
This type of rabbit relies on human interaction to survive, whether it is intended for feeding, or scavenging from human areas. Janse van Rensburg said that even once the fence is fully erected at the main complex, her organisation will continue to catch rabbits to either rehome or sterilise.
“We still need foster homes and further donation for sterilisation and treatment, but so far, the pace in taking care of the bunnies has been phenomenal.”
Details: The Strawberry Foundation strawberry1@jennynell-ot.co.za; 073 243 8161.
