That rabbit looks to weigh a lot more than 20 pounds
The story has even made People Magazine.
https://people.com/spanish-nuns-help-save-rare-giant-rabbit-breed-from-extinction-11961585
Apparently, this was a popular breed during the Spanish Civil War when food was in short supply, given that these things would not just grow to 20+ lbs, but would also breed and produce about 22 babies per month.
Of course, with the end of war and the onset of prosperity…“Thumper” became a less popular item on the dinner table.
That’s interesting.
I know their built differently but I’ve held a 50 pound dog in my arms that was smaller than that rabbit
Don’t know if that rabbit could outrun the tortoise.
Hmmmm…dinner for 8
I might have to get me one of these or two. Just in case I need an extra 20 or so per month.
I remember my first encounter with a European rabbit/hare on field exercise in Baumholder. scared the living crap out of us by deciding to do parkour through our base camp.
Had a buddy stationed in England with the Air Force. Stayed at his place in the country and one day his neighbor took me “ferreting”. The hare live in a sort of rabbit condo with lots of holes usually on the side of a small rise. You then put a net over each of the holes, except one. Then in the open hole he took his ferret, on a leash, and sent it down the hole. Minutes later, you heard a "thump, thump, thump, and a hare would come flying out a netted hole and get tangled in the net, giving us time to run over, grab it and give a shot to the back of the neck. Occasionally, a hare would get away and his pet whippet was there to catch it. Unfortunately his whippet was very pregnant and wasn’t up to speed.
We got 6 hare. Went back to the neighbor’s home and gutted and skinned them. He hung them up for 3 days to “get rid of the gamey taste”. We then had a dinner and he also served rhubarb wine. Quite the unique experience.