A comparison of behaviour, reproduction, and mortality of wild and domestic rabbits in confined population

Abstract

In four experiments, 23 adult domestic rabbits born and reared in enclosures and 16 born and reared in cages were released into enclosures. Their reproduction, behaviour, and mortality were compared with those of wild rabbits. The domestic rabbits born and reared in enclosures reproduced successfully in competition with wild rabbits but those reared in cages succumbed to injury, disease, or predation and did not reproduce. Several successful matings occurred between wild males and domestic females. The behaviour of 16 domestic rabbits reared in enclosures was similar to the behaviour of wild rabbits except that the domestic rabbits stayed above ground while resting during the day. The observations indicate why releases of domestic rabbits appear to be successful only on islands where preying mammals are absent; the behaviour patterns of domestic rabbits render them more susceptible than wild rabbits to the attacks of predators.