There are rabbits – cuddly-sized, soft-furred burrowing mammals with long ears and long legs belonging to the animal family Leporidae – and there are jumbo rabbits, as Modern Farmer reminds with a story about efforts to revive the Valenciano, a meat-bearing breed in Spain. Also known at the Spanish giant, “these rabbits are the size of a small lamb,” says T&D Rabbitry. “The breed was established in 1912 when farmers in Valencia cross-bred domestic rabbits with the Flemish giant to produce as much meat as possible.” The Spanish giant weighs in at 12.5-15 pounds.
“Flemish Giant rabbits are the mammoth rabbits of the rabbit world and the basis of all giant rabbit breeds,” says Rasing-Rabbits.com. “As early as the 1500’s, rabbits ‘four times bigger than normal rabbits’ were already living in the area of Verona, Belgium.” Modern Farmer says the world’s largest rabbit is named Ralph, a 55-pound Continental Giant that eats $90 of food weekly.