The Rabbit

During the 16th century a monk named Atricola of Verona, Italy reported producing white, black and spotted rabbits within the monastery.

The interest in other colors began to arise. King Richard the Third imported 250 white rabbits from Europe in the mid 15th century for his castle in Wensleydale, England. The rabbits were brought there as an alternative sport for his knights, who were bored with hunting the same quarry.

The rabbits were kept in closely guarded, enclosed warrens.

A few were later released into the countryside. King Richard's white rabbits were preserved there in their semi domestication until 1840.

The Angora rabbit is believed to come from the southern Carpathian mountain region. Breeding of these rabbits is believed to have started during the 6th century. The Trelicians learned that they could harvest the rabbits' wool, and it was much softer than Angora goats, and warmer too. 'Angora' is taken from the Trellician word for 'not sharp'.

Angora rabbits had gotten King Henry VIII's (1491-1547) attention and he banned the sale of long-haired rabbits or their export to other countries.

By the 1700s, English mariners had brought the first Angoras to the Bordeaux region of southern France.

The breed then spread in Germany. During 1780-1781, the Prussian government was offering prizes for Angora wool production. Napolean Bonaparte was so taken by this rabbit breed he had machines invented for the mass spinning of Angora wool. It became a major industry in France and a world leader in rabbit wool production.