Owner laments theft of pet Flemish Giant bunny from England home

A £1,000 reward is being offered in England after a rabbit said to be the biggest in the world was stolen from its home in Worcestershire.

Police believe the Flemish Giant rabbit was taken from its enclosure in Stoulton on Saturday night.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "We are appealing for information following the theft of an award-winning rabbit from its home in Stoulton, Worcestershire.

"It is believed the Continental Giant rabbit was stolen from its enclosure in the garden of the property of its owners overnight on Saturday April 10 to April 11."

Named Darius, the rabbit is recognized by Guinness World Records as being the longest alive at 4ft 3in (129cm).

Owner Annette Edwards is offering the reward and said the theft of her pet was a "very sad day.''

She said on Twitter that Darius is now too old to breed and pleaded for the thieves to bring him back.

According to the Maryland Zoo in the US these rabbits weigh 15 pounds on average and can reach a length of 2.5 feet. Males have broader heads than females. Females have a dewlap – a large fold of skin under the chin that they use to warm their young.

Flemish Giants are a very old breed of domesticated rabbit. Originally raised for meat and fur, the breed already existed in Belgium by the 16th century. The first standards for the breed were written in 1893.

Although a domesticated breed, Flemish Giants still retain certain adaptations of wild rabbits. They have large ears that contribute to excellent hearing, and good eyesight, both of which would help them detect predators, the zoo says.-Sky News/The Standard. Pic: Caters News/BBC