Rabbit rescued from road gives birth in safety
When heavily pregnant rabbit Shrimp was rescued from a dark country road, it was a lifeline for the adorable pet and her unborn kits.
Thankfully spotted “frozen in the headlights” of a car, the golden brown rabbit was taken to safety by Blue Cross Suffolk’s centre manager Charles White.
Along with a male rabbit named Ned, the pair were rescued from the road where they had been abandoned on the cold January night.
The pair’s lop ears gave an immediate clue that these were no ordinary wild rabbits, but pets that had been abandoned.
“As I was driving down the hill, I suddenly saw a rabbit frozen in my headlights,” explains Charles, who was just metres from the Blue Cross centre in Bourne Hill, Ipswich, when he spotted the rabbits.
“I realised the rabbit had lop ears, so I stopped the car and managed to catch it.
“Then the next thing I saw was another one, standing in a meerkat pose in my headlights.”
Bringing the confused pets back to the centre, the young crossbreed rabbits were checked for any injuries before being given food and a warm place to stay.
“It was clear the rabbits have had so much love, care and attention, so it’s hard to see them just left on a hill in the cold and dark where they really aren’t safe,” adds Charles.
“There are foxes and buzzards which could have got them, plus the deadly rabbit disease myxomatosis is still around. Pet rabbits really don’t know how to survive in the wild.”
Sadly, Charles later found a larger male lop rabbit in the road, where it had been hit by a car.
When the surviving rabbits were checked over, Charles discovered that Shrimp – who is around six months old – was pregnant.
So, while younger rabbit Ned had routine vet care including vaccinations, microchipping and neutering before heading into a happy foster home, mum-to-be Shrimp remained in our centre to be cared for as she prepared to give birth.
And a week after coming into Blue Cross care, Shrimp gave birth to four gorgeous kits – named Oyster, Prawn, Clam and Squid.
Hopping around with their mum, the black, brown and fawn crossbreed bunnies are oblivious to the danger they faced.
But with the help of Blue Cross, this little rabbit family will soon find new homes where they will be safe, protected and loved.
Could you give a home to any of these adorable rabbits?
