rabbit history timeline

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thatcrazybunny

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History of Rabbits and their Domestication
'Eocene Epoch',
55 million years ago;
  • Ancient relatives of the modern rabbit lived in Asia and North America.
  • Dinosaurs were already extinct and age of mammals begun.
800,000 years ago;
  • First fossil evidence of rabbits as we know them appeared.
During the Pliocene to the Beginning of the Ice Age;
  • Modern day (domestic) rabbit is descended from the wild rabbit; 'Oryctolagus cuniculus' makes its first appearance.
Another 790,000 years;
  • Before Homo Sapiens evolved.
About 1100BC;
  • Man's relationship with the European or 'true' rabbit recorded by seafaring Phoenicians when they landed in Iberia, and dispersed them to other areas.
  • The Phoenicians termed the Iberian Peninsula 'i-shephan-im' (the land of the rabbit), which became the Latin word 'Hispania', then became 'Spain'.

About 100BC;
  • rearing rabbits in captivity started in Rome
  • Rabbits were kept and hunted in large gardens surrounded by stone walls called 'Leporaria'.
  • This did not propose domestication because there was no specialized breeding program.
1st Century AD;
  • Isolated monasteries began to keep rabbits for a ready source of food.

Between 6th and 10th centuries AD;
  • The French monks were probably responsible for the actual domestication of the wild rabbit
  • They kept the rabbits in separate cages to protect the breeding does.
  • Selection process starts by choosing tamer and friendlier rabbits that were easier to handle.

12th Century AD;
  • Normans brought them to Britain and established them as domestic and wild animals.

1249 AD;
  • Records show transaction between two monasteries for the purchase of two breeding pairs of rabbits.
Soon After;
  • Rabbits have found their way to most regions of the world by either natural means or by early sailing vessels who kept them for a ready source of meat.

1407 AD;
  • Rabbits kept on islands for confinement using their fear of water, as a source of food during long sailing trips.
1530 AD;
  • Early development of new varieties showing deliberate breeding.
  • first reference of a white rabbit
Mid 16th Century AD;
  • Development of other colors such a black, and an increase in size.
During 17th Century AD;
  • First appearance of 'silver-gray' and 'blue' rabbits and then the subsequent fur industry.
  • Seven distinct colors as well as differences in coat length and texture ear length and body size had been genetically selected.
  • Early fanciers then develop new breeds for meat, fur and pets.
  • Study of genetics on its way.
Prior to 1898 AD;
  • Very few domestic rabbits in North America.
1910 AD;
  • Other breeds of Domestic rabbits developed and imported into North America.
  • Development of a national rabbit association devoted to all breeds.


refs: http://www.drcba.ca/Information/RabbitWhoandWhy.aspx
 

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