Despite its name, the Alaska Rabbit originates in Germany, rather than Alaska. It is a medium-sized rabbit breed, weighing around 7-9 lbs (3–4 kg) with glossy jet-black fur. Any color other than black is a fault for this breed.
It is recognised by the British Rabbit Council; however it is not recognised by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
The Alaska rabbit was created in 1900 by Max Fischer of Gotha, a rabbit judge, as well as a man named Schmidt of Langensalza. They crossed Havanas, Dutch, Himalayans and Champagne d'Argents with the goal of obtaining a rabbit that looks like the Alaskan Fox, which were profitable in the fur trade of that time. They did not achieve this goal, and instead ended up with the jet-black Alaska. These black Alaskans were first shown in 1907, and imported to North America in the 1970s by Bert Reurs of Canada. They were added into the American Rabbit Breeders Standard, but after Black Havanas were created in the mid-1970s, interest waned and they were dropped from Standards in 1981.
The Alaska rabbit weighs 7-9 lbs. It is considered a Normal Fur breed by British Rabbit Council standards, and only comes in its standard, pitch black color. The Alaska Rabbit Club is the BRC's national specialty club for this breed.
See also
References
- Raising-Rabbits.com Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- British Rabbit Council Archived April 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine breed standards
- Canadian Statesman Newspaper, Oct 29, 1969, references Bert Reurs as a rabbit breeder.
- Bob D. Whitman, Domestic Rabbits & Their Histories Breeds of the World, 2004, pg 43.
- "BRC National Specialist Club list". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
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