In what countries do wild rabbits live. Wild rabbits: characteristic features of appearance, habits. What does a rabbit eat

Their body length is only 35-45 cm, tail 4-7 cm, ears 6-7 cm, and the average weight is 1.3-2.2 kilograms. The color of the upper body is formed by mixing fur hair dyed light brown and black. The hair on the back is gray-brown in a soft color. The tail is two-colored: black-brown above, white below. The belly of wild rabbits and the underside of the paws are reddish-white. The hind legs are quite long. The feet are well furred, the nails are straight and long.

Wild rabbits are widespread in Central and Western Europe and North Africa. They also acclimatized in South and North America, Australia, New Zealand, on many islands and even in subantarctic regions.

For a settlement, European rabbits prefer places overgrown with shrubs with rugged terrain. These are beams, ravines, abandoned quarries, steep banks of estuaries and seas. They are less common in gardens, forest belts, parks. Important for wild rabbits is the nature of the soil suitable for digging. Animals prefer to settle on light sandy soils and avoid clay, dense or rocky areas.

Wild rabbits are sedentary. They occupy territories with an area of ​​0.5-20 hectares, which are marked with an odorous secretion from the skin glands. Mutual assistance exists between members of the colonies; knocking on the ground with their hind legs, they notify neighbors of danger. Unlike hares, wild rabbits dig complex deep burrows in which they spend most of their lives. Burrows are of two types: simple - at a depth of 30-60 cm, with 1-3 exits and a nesting chamber; and complex - at a depth of up to 2.5-3 m, with 4-8 exits and a length of up to 45 m.

Animals usually do not go far from burrows and feed on adjacent areas, hiding in burrows at the slightest danger. Wild rabbits leave inhabited burrows only when the vegetation near the burrow is severely degraded or when it is destroyed. Rabbits run not too fast (20-25 km / h), but very nimble. therefore, it is quite difficult to catch an adult rabbit.

Wild rabbits feed on grass and succulent soft parts of other plants, and when there is a lack of food, they eat the bark of trees and branches of shrubs. In winter and summer, animals eat differently. In summer, they feed on the green parts of herbaceous plants, eat cabbage, various root crops and grain crops. In winter, in addition to dry grass, underground parts of plants are often pulled out, and the bark of shrubs and trees is gnawed. In a situation of complete food shortage, they even eat their own feces.

Rabbits breed very quickly. At the age of less than a year, young individuals become sexually mature. Rabbits bring 3-4 litters per year, 3-7 rabbits in each. Rabbits are somewhat more prolific in southern Western European countries (3-5 litters of 5-6 rabbits), and in Australia and New Zealand they breed even faster. Before giving birth, rabbits make a nest inside the holes. For bedding, combed out fur on their own belly is used. Unlike rabbits, rabbits are born blind, naked and completely helpless, and weigh only 40-50 grams. After 10 days, their eyes open. on the 25th day, the babies begin to lead an independent life, although the mother continues to feed them with milk until almost a month old.

Despite the speed of reproduction, in the wild there is a very high mortality of young animals. During the first three weeks of life, almost 40% of young animals die, and in the first year about 90%. Especially high mortality from coccidiosis and, when flooding holes in rainy times. The maximum life expectancy of wild rabbits is 12-15 years.

In Europe, rabbits are considered an object of hunting (the meat of these animals is used for food) and agricultural pests.

Wild European rabbits are the ancestors of the familiar domestic rabbits. Initially, this species of the hare family lived only in the central and southern parts of Europe, but then it was successfully settled far from its original places.

Today, the European rabbit lives in Australia and on nearby islands, and also inhabits parts of North Africa. For the first time this type of animal was domesticated in ancient times, when the Roman Empire existed.

Since then, rabbits are considered pets, they are kept both for slaughter and for decorative purposes.

The European wild rabbit is not large, it strongly resembles a hare: its body grows from 30 to 45 centimeters in length, and the weight of this animal does not exceed 2.5 kilograms. The ears of a European rabbit are slightly shorter than those of a hare, their length is no more than 7.2 centimeters, and the hind legs are not so big. The fur cover of the representatives of the species is colored in a grayish-brown hue, but depending on the habitat, it can change to a red color. The ventral region of the body is always light, and the tips of the tail and ears have dark markings. Like wild hares, European rabbits are subject to seasonal molting.

Any terrain is suitable for wild rabbits to live, but these animals still try to avoid dense forests. Often the European rabbit can be found in the highlands, although this animal does not climb high into the mountains. The European wild rabbit also likes spaces near settlements: close proximity to people does not bother him. Apparently, therefore, rabbits could easily become pets.

Like all representatives of rabbits, the European species can be active at any time of the day, but the habitat plays a big role here: if there are many dangers and enemies around, then the rabbit leaves the hole at night. These mammals live in burrows, which they either build themselves or are occupied by ownerless ones.

Rabbits are social animals. They live in groups of 8-10 individuals. Each such community has its own hierarchy and rules of conduct. Going in search of food, European rabbits try not to stray far from their hole, so that there is always the opportunity to hide from the enemy chasing them (for example, or). Plant food serves as food for these animals: roots and leaves, tree bark, as well as the remains of grass under a layer of snow (in winter).

The mating season for these mammals occurs several times a year. European rabbits are highly prolific: in a year they can reproduce from two to six offspring, each of which can have from 2 to 12 babies. Count - in a year it turns out not so little, isn't it? Pregnancy in a female wild European rabbit lasts no more than a month, and the new generation is capable of reproducing its own offspring already at the age of six months. The life expectancy of this species of animals is 12 - 15 years, but the laws of nature are harsh, and most often these cute little animals die at the age of three.

Appearance

Medium-sized animal: body length 31-45 cm, body weight 1.3-2.5 kg. The length of the ears is less than the length of the head, 6-7.2 cm. The feet are pubescent, the claws are long and straight. The coloration of the upper body is usually brownish-gray, sometimes with a reddish tint. The tip of the tail is black or grey. On the back, a dark brown striation is visible, formed by the ends of the guard hairs. At the ends of the ears, black rims are distinguishable; buffy patches on the neck behind the ears. A dull light stripe runs along the sides of the body, ending in a wide spot in the thigh area. The belly is white or light gray. The tail is brown-black above, white below. Quite often (3-5%) there are individuals of aberrant color - black, light gray, white, piebald. There is practically no seasonal color change. There are 44 chromosomes in the karyotype.

Rabbits shed 2 times a year. Spring molt begins in March. Females molt quickly, in about 1.5 months; in males, summer fur appears more slowly and traces of molting can be observed until summer. Autumn molt occurs in September-November.

Spreading

Initially, the range of the rabbit was limited to the Iberian Peninsula and isolated areas in southern France and northwest Africa: it was here that these heat-loving animals survived after the last major ice age. However, thanks to human economic activity, the rabbit has settled on all continents, except for Asia and Antarctica. It is believed that rabbits came to the Mediterranean region along with the Romans; Normans in the 12th century brought them to England and Ireland. In the Middle Ages, the rabbit spread throughout almost all of Europe.

The determining factor for the optimal life of the species is the minimum number of days with snow cover per year (up to 37), as well as the maximum number of winters without stable snow cover (at least 79% on average). If the number of days with snow cover exceeds this indicator, the rabbit population acquires a pulsating character, i.e. in mild winters, in case of overpopulation, rabbits from more southern regions move to more northern ones, where they die again in more severe winters. The maximum possible threshold is 102 days with snow cover.

At present, wild rabbits live in most areas of Western and Central Europe, in Scandinavia, in southern Ukraine, in the Crimea, in North Africa; acclimatized in South Africa. On the islands of the Mediterranean Sea, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans (in particular, the Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira Island, Hawaiian Islands), rabbits were released specifically so that they would breed and serve as a source of food for the crews of passing ships. The total number of islands where rabbits have been introduced reaches 500; thus, they live in a wild state on a number of islands in the Caspian Sea (Zhiloy, Nargen, Bullo, etc.), where they were brought in the 19th century. In the middle of the XVIII century. rabbits were brought to Chile , from where they have already independently moved to the territory of Argentina . They got to Australia in the city and a few years later - to New Zealand. In the 1950s rabbits from the San Juan Islands (Washington) were released in the eastern United States.

In Russia and CIS countries

Rabbits live in family groups of 8-10 adults. Groups have a rather complex hierarchical structure. The dominant male occupies the main burrow; the dominant female and her offspring live with him. Subordinate females live and raise offspring in separate burrows. The dominant male has the advantage during the breeding season. Most rabbits are polygamous, but some males are monogamous and stay on the territory of one particular female. Males jointly defend the colony from strangers. Mutual assistance exists between the members of the colony; they alert each other of danger by tapping the ground with their hind legs.

Nutrition

When feeding, rabbits do not move more than 100 m from their burrows. In this regard, their diet is not selective, and the composition of feed is determined by their availability. Food is different in winter and summer. In summer, they eat the green parts of herbaceous plants; in the fields and vegetable gardens they feed on lettuce, cabbage, various root crops and grain crops. In winter, in addition to dry grass, underground parts of plants are often dug up. A significant role in winter nutrition is played by the shoots and bark of trees and shrubs. They “ring” the trunks of cherries and acacias, in case of hunger they gnaw the bark of walnuts, they try to climb trees and shrubs to a height of up to 1.5 m. In a situation of food shortage, they also eat their own feces (coprophagia).

reproduction

Rabbits are very prolific. The breeding season covers most of the year. During the year, rabbits can bring offspring in some cases up to 2-4 times. So, in Southern Europe, from March to October, a rabbit brings 3-5 litters out of 5-6 rabbits. In the northern parts of the range, breeding continues through June-July. Out of season pregnant females are rare. Populations introduced in the Southern Hemisphere breed all year round under favorable conditions. In Australia, there is a break in breeding in the middle of summer when the grass burns out.

Pregnancy lasts 28-33 days. The number of rabbits in a litter is 2-12, in the wild usually 4-7, on industrial farms 8-10. Postpartum estrus is characteristic, when females are ready to mate again within a few hours after giving birth. The average population growth per season is 20-30 rabbits per female cat. In northern populations with less favorable climatic conditions, there are no more than 20 rabbits per female; in the Southern Hemisphere - up to 40 rabbits. The number of cubs in the litter also depends on the age of the female: in females younger than 10 months, the average number of rabbits is 4.2; in adults - 5.1; from the age of 3 years, fertility decreases markedly. Up to 60% of pregnancies are not carried to delivery, and the embryos spontaneously resolve.

Before giving birth, the rabbit arranges a nest inside the hole, combing out the underfur for him from the fur on her stomach. Rabbits, unlike hares, are born naked, blind and completely helpless; at birth, they weigh 40-50 g. Their eyes open after 10 days; on the 25th day, they already begin to lead an independent lifestyle, although the female continues to feed them with milk up to 4 weeks of life. Sexual maturity is reached at the age of 5-6 months, so early litters can already breed at the end of summer. However, in wild populations, young rabbits rarely breed in their first year of life. In captivity, young female rabbits can give birth as early as 3 months of age. Despite the high reproduction rate, due to the mortality of young animals in the wild, the population profit is only 10-11.5 rabbits per female. In the first 3 weeks of life, about 40% of young animals die; in the first year - up to 90%. Mortality from coccidiosis is especially high in rainy times, when water floods the burrows. Only a few rabbits live past the age of 3 years. The maximum life expectancy is 12-15 years.

Number and importance for humans

The number of populations of wild rabbits is subject to significant changes, in some cases it can reach an abnormally high level. With mass reproduction, they harm forestry and agriculture.

They are hunted for fur and meat. The rabbit has been domesticated for over 1000 years. The issues of breeding rabbits for industrial purposes are dealt with by the livestock industry - rabbit breeding, food; used for experiments in genetics. Rabbits can also be kept as pets.

Rabbits as pests

In some areas, rabbits, in the absence of natural predators, do great harm by eating vegetation, damaging crops and spoiling the land with their burrows. So, on some islands of the Pacific Ocean, rabbits ate vegetation, which caused soil erosion and the destruction of the coastal zone where seabirds nested.

However, the greatest damage was caused by the spread of rabbits in Australia, where they were brought in the 18th century. In 1859, the settler Tom Austin, who lived in Victoria, released 24 rabbits, they bred, and by 1900 their number in Australia was already estimated at 20 million heads. Rabbits eat grass, making food competition to sheep and cattle. They cause even more damage to the native fauna and flora of Australia, eating relict vegetation and displacing native species that cannot compete with rapidly breeding rabbits. Shooting, poisoned baits are used as measures to combat rabbits; in addition, European predators were brought to Australia - fox, ferret, ermine, weasel. Mesh fences are being installed in places in Australia to prevent rabbits from settling in new areas. The most successful way to deal with these pests was the "bacteriological war" of the 1950s, when they tried to infect rabbits with an acute viral disease - myxomatosisendemic to South America. The initial effect was very large, in many areas of Australia up to 90% of all rabbits died out. Survivors have developed immunity. The rabbit problem is still acute in Australia and

There are characteristic features that distinguish them from other lagomorphs.

Regardless of the species or group, these animals are endowed with special features, their own signs.

Only a complete lack of experience, observation and knowledge in the field of fur animal husbandry does not allow us to say which animal settled in the enclosure. Short-term care and communication will immediately fill in the gaps, and will provide an opportunity to sort it out.

A memorable appearance or a special anatomical structure of the body

The body of a hare is more elongated and large in size with a seasonally changing color depending on the time of year.

In summer, the coat is dark or with variegated stains, in winter it brightens or whitens.

The rabbit looks more modest and does not repaint the fur coat.

The weight of adults depends on the species (there are miniature pygmies that do not reach 400 g), mainly ranges from 2-3 kg.

Pay attention to the length of the limbs. Hare paws are muscular, strong, formed under the influence of the instinct of self-preservation. The limbs are adapted for fast running through fields, ravines, high jumps. The rabbit does not need sharp turns.

For its range of life, tender, short, neat paws are quite enough to move calmly, evenly. But large soft pads and powerful claws, adapted for digging deep underground passages. They move on the surface only on their fingers, relying on all points at once (5 on the front paw and 4 on the back).

Long high rabbit ears are not needed either.

Their locating abilities are designed for a delicate, thin, medium-sized auricle.

They look proportionally on the head with uniformly smooth forms of the nose and shortened antennae.

The fur is thick, intensely colored, soft to the touch, without stiffness.

It molts twice a year. Gray, yellow-brown colors with a monochromatic undercoat predominate.

Do not change for summer or winter. Scientists engaged in detailed study find differences in the structure of internal organs. For example:

• The position of the epiglottis above the palate opens the way to nasal breathing.
• Intestinal digestion, the process of which takes place with a huge participation of the caecum.
• The musculature of the tract is arranged in such a way that there is a clear distinction between solid fibrous residues and easily digestible substances.
• The structure of the cranium and the unequal development of individual bones.
• The teeth (incisors) are arranged in 2 rows.
• The width of the lumbar vertebrae is several percent larger.
• Muscle contraction occurs almost similarly to hares, except for the frequency of the heartbeat.

Each trait manifests itself to a certain extent depending on. The difference between lagomorphs is clearly visible in the way of life.

Habits and character

The aggravated struggle for survival in the outside world left a deep imprint on the animals. They manage to exist calmly in natural conditions only thanks to high vigilance, precaution. Constant vigilance to calculate the threat, makes you constantly be on the alert, survey the open area. A reliable fortress, shelter from enemies is a hole.

Burrowing shelters for (European Commons) is just as important as foraging.

They build whole underground "cottages" with a system of transitions and can spend there all their free time from eating and walking in the air.

Maternity wards and primary nurseries for offspring are arranged here.

The offspring of rabbits is numerous (from 3 to 10 pieces), so special niches are equipped for it, lined with soft dry grass, leaves and mother's fluff. Rabbits are born helpless blind and naked, they need to be warmed, wrapped and protected from pests.

The markings that the female leaves at the entrance are a protective barrier. An excessively long absence of the mother near the cubs is not allowed.

For the first weeks, little mole rats suck milk. It is indicative that only the mother can feed the babies. Identification of a blood relative occurs by smell. they give reinforcements to any strange hungry cub of their own breed. Once in the vicinity of a cub in need of help, they will fulfill their duty to nature.

Hares from the moment of birth are endowed with relative independence. A house in a small open-air hole requires caution and the possibility of additional warming. They immediately have a fur coat, open eyes, a developed sense of smell and the ability to run away from danger. The hare does not run the risk of being left without food, it can be reinforced by any female running past, and this gives a great chance of survival, even if the mother has moved far away or died.

Replenishment in families appears more often (3-4 times a year), and not only in the spring, as in their relatives.

Due to their fertility, populations remain numerous even during periods of mortality due to epidemics and excess activity of predators.

Rabbits live collectively, uniting in groups, they can be easily tamed and domesticated, grown in cages, hares are individual, form pairs for the mating season, do not survive in captivity.

Behind the seemingly inexperienced similarity lies a lot of differences.

Where do rabbit families live and how do they choose the area

Any representative of the fauna cares about living conditions as seriously as about food reserves. Rabbits choose habitats based on habits, expediency. They usually settle in areas with difficult terrain. For the construction of burrow complexes suitable:

• Hills.
• Steep banks of large rivers, seas.
• Beams with dense young growth and abandoned sand quarries.
• Some species settle on the slopes of volcanoes.
• There are lovers of wetlands with bumps.
• The only species of American rabbit does not dig tunnels, but lives in open fields, making holes, like hares.
• The North Caucasian group may use dense thickets for habitation.

In mountainous terrain, it is easier to deal with laying, expanding holes, living chambers. But the soil must be pliable, not rocky or clayey. The entrances are quite wide (up to 25 cm in diameter) covered with canopies made of earth. At a distance of 80-90 cm, the tunnel narrows slightly. The optimal height of the "rooms" up to half a meter is sometimes less or more. To prevent the vaults from collapsing, builders calculate the location under the roots of a tree or shrub.

Family clans own a space of several hectares, depending on the saturation of the grass cover. They do not move too far from the minks and if the food runs out, does not recover, then they move to new housing. Families are polygamous, but there are also monogamous males.

The correct choice of location affects the well-being, numbers, flow and end of life.

What does the diet consist of, and how is the problem of vitamin deficiency solved?

The main menu of rabbits is the ground part of grassy shoots, young shrubs. In summer they eat greens. They go to the vegetable fields,. They feast on cabbage, beets, carrots, respect lettuce leaves. Sometimes they make their way into the gardens and bury themselves in apples. In the fall, they look for hot places on grain crops.

In winter, the diet changes. If dry grass cannot be obtained from under the snow, the tips of the lower branches of cherries, apple trees, and willow trees are used. The lack of moisture, nutrients is compensated by eating morning droppings. Such cecotrophs are similar to storage chambers for concentrated vitamins.

Useful waste is covered with a mucous capsule. They contain many enzymes important for digestion, cell growth, and metabolism. They are of particular importance for young animals during puberty and pregnancy.

In times of food shortages, to save life, they eat the bark of trees and try to climb higher to get juicier pieces. Because of these habits, rodents are considered pests of agricultural plantations.

Health and the course of life depend on feeding. In nature, it lasts up to 3 years, although the potential is laid for 10-12 years. Nutrition is directly related to the number of animals per square meter, a vicious circle is obtained.

They try to regulate the number of individuals in different ways. They hunt, carry out trapping, with the accelerated growth of the rabbit population, they use a bacteriological attack, spreading diseases by piece.

What climate do eared animals like

Are there rabbits everywhere?

Naturally, there are no food bases in the Antarctic ice, and it is impossible to dig holes in the permafrost, which means that such animals cannot be found there.

Among the known studied 20 species of wild rabbits, only one lives in Europe, it was from him that domestic representatives divorced.

The rest are mainly settled in America, Africa, Australia.

Wild, whose prevalence has increased several times over the past century, settled in those parts of the continents where warm mild climatic conditions prevail.

The primary range was limited to the African northwestern part, the south of France, Iberia. In these regions, the glacier did not linger, and food remained.

The main requirement for the success of the expansion of the territory of existence is the height and constancy of snow cover throughout the winter. The less snow on the ground and the days of its continuous lying, the greater the percentage of survival of furry settlers. The border snow threshold is considered to be a period of 3.5 months with relative mild weather.

The Romans and the Norman conquerors brought fur-bearing animals to the Mediterranean, Ireland, and the British Isles. In the Middle Ages, they populated almost the entire European space, which pleased citizens with low and medium incomes, becoming useful prey for them.

Some people, looking at cute and fluffy domesticated rabbits, tend to think that their relatives, who live in the harsh wild nature, lead the same carefree life and only nibble on the juicy grass growing in the meadows. But this is an erroneous opinion, since each new day for them is a constant struggle for survival. A wild rabbit is always in search of at least some kind of food, regardless of the season, and besides, it still has to hide from all kinds of predators.

Description

That is why these small animals have such a body structure, thanks to which it will be easier for them to survive in the harsh conditions of their natural environment. They are endowed with unique abilities to extract their food from under the snow, have excellent hearing, allowing them to hear the approach of a predator at a distance of thirty meters, even if it is not on the ground, but hovering in the air.

Outwardly, a wild rabbit looks like a hare. Its description can begin with the fact that it is small in size. The body length ranges from 32 to 46 centimeters, while it weighs no more than two kilograms. His hind legs are smaller than others and hares, and his ears are longer.

A wild rabbit is endowed with a heterogeneous color. His photos show that this animal has a brownish-gray coat on top, sometimes with a reddish tint. The abdomen and tip of the tail are slightly lighter, and a whitish stripe is visible on the sides, turning into a small spot in the upper part of the thigh.

A wild rabbit, unlike a hare, does not change its color during the year, but only two molts occur, as expected, in spring and autumn.

Where do they live?

Initially, these small animals lived only on the Iberian Peninsula, but thanks to agricultural activities, they were settled on almost all continents, except for Antarctica and Asia.

Currently, the wild rabbit lives in Russia, Ukraine, as well as in many countries of Europe and Africa. In addition, this small animal can be found on the islands of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.

These animals live only where there are bushes and low trees, but they can also live in steppes, forest belts and plantings. Their living conditions differ significantly from the way of life of hares, since a wild rabbit needs a smaller territory for its existence. The family of these small animals can easily get along on the land, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich varies from three to twenty hectares. For a more comfortable existence, they dig holes for themselves, reaching up to thirty meters in length.

home of small animals

Such tunnels can be seen in any open area with difficult terrain, it is there that a wild rabbit digs for himself. Where this small animal lives, only sandy soil prevails there, so that it is easier and more convenient for it to dig holes for itself.

The harsh conditions of survival forced these animals to hide as deep underground as possible, where you can hide away from predators. There they spend most of their lives. Such holes are dug mainly by females, and this takes a lot of time. They look like a nesting place with three exits to the surface.

Lifestyle

Thus, a wild rabbit in nature can more often be found in gullies, ravines, on steep sea shores or abandoned quarries. These animals are not at all afraid of being close to humans, so they can even settle on the outskirts of settlements and in various landfills.

When these little animals choose a certain territory for their life, they always mark it with an odorous secret produced by the skin glands. Unlike hares, wild rabbits do not lead an isolated lifestyle, but settle in whole groups (7-11 individuals each). Their families have a rather complex hierarchical structure.

What do they eat?

A wild rabbit, when feeding, does not move further from the hole than a hundred meters. Therefore, his diet is not particularly diverse. Only winter and summer meals differ. In the warm period, small animals eat leaves and grass. If there are fields and gardens near their dwelling, then these animals eat salads, cabbage, all kinds of root crops and grain crops on them.

With the approach of cold, rabbits move to dry grass and parts of plants dug out of the ground. In addition, in winter they can still eat shoots and bark of trees or shrubs.

How is reproduction

These small animals are considered to be very prolific. They breed almost all year round. Rabbits can bear offspring about three times per season. Pregnancy in these animals lasts about one month. The number of rabbits in a litter can vary from 4 to 12 and depends on the living conditions and the age of their mother. Thus, in a year she can bring from 20 to 50 cubs. Within a few hours after giving birth, the female is again ready for mating.

Rabbits of this species grow at a rapid pace due to the fact that the very first four weeks after their birth, they feed only on mother's milk. Five months later, they already reach puberty and leave the family, forming their own.

What is the value of these animals for humans?

It turns out that only this type of European wild rabbit was tamed by people. Therefore, it is considered the ancestor of all domestic breeds of these small animals without exception.

They are currently being bred on the territory of various natural reserves and nurseries. European rabbits are in demand by many breeders, as they can be used to improve breeds of domesticated species.

In addition, they are an object of fishing due to their beautiful fur and delicious meat. That is why rabbit breeding is considered one of the most important branches of world agriculture.

Since the domestication of wild rabbits, more than seventy different breeds of these animals have already been bred. Among them are downy, decorative, as well as those used to test new drugs and food in scientific laboratories.

But in addition to being useful, these wild animals in some countries, where there are no predatory animals, can cause great harm to people, eating all crops, damaging fields, crops, and also spoiling the land with their numerous holes. For example, in the Pacific Islands, they completely destroyed the vegetation, which led to the destruction of the coastline, which served as nesting seabirds.

Summing up, one can come to the conclusion that these amazing animals are perfectly adapted to living in the wild, therefore they can support their population.