Will giant Germans rule Ze world once again?

[Barklessdog]

German giant rabbits that is





I read where North Korea was buying a dozen breeding pairs that mathematically could feed the whole country in several years

Although the rabbit depicted in these photographs may seem almost unbelievably large, it is (or was) in fact a real animal and the images are authentic. According to a February 2007 Washington Post article, the colossal bunny in the pictures is a German gray giant named "Robert" who weighed in at at whopping 23 pounds (10.4 kilograms). The man holding Robert is Karl Szmolinsky, a long-time rabbit breeder who lives in Eberswalde, a town in eastern Germany.

Szmolinsky and his giant rabbits gained the attention of the media after he agreed to sell some of his animals to the North Koreans to be used in a breeding program designed to help alleviate chronic food shortages in that country. Because of the large size of the breed, North Korean diplomats felt that Szmolinsky's rabbits would be a good choice as breeding stock. Indeed, Szmolinsky notes that each of his giant rabbits can yield up to 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms) of tender meat.

In December 2006, a collection of carefully selected rabbits, including Robert, was transported to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Szmolinsky was later informed that the rabbits arrived safely in North Korea.

Sadly, what happened to Robert and the other bunnies after their arrival is somewhat unclear. The secretive North Koreans remain tight-lipped about the success or failure of the breeding program. In fact, Mr Szmolinsky later received word that the rabbits he supplied may have been eaten at a birthday banquet for North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, rather than used as breeders as he intended. Thus, poor Robert may no longer be with us.

[TBird1958]

Mmmmmmmm.....Tastes like Chicken.

[uwe]

Probably descendants of the Belgische Riese (Belgian Giant - a  rabbit breed) we once had. We let it roam free in our garden and in the evening our medium sized poodle would chase it into its rabbit pen again. Most of the time. One evening, the rabbit taught the poddle a lesson in dog-fighting: It outturned the poodle and rammed it squarely from the side (head first) which gave the poodle its first flying lesson.

Rabbit was decorated with ze iron cross and lived happily for many years. It shared its pen with two guinea pigs and had a romantic relationship - albeit futile as regards rodent reproduction - with both of them.

Uwe 

[Barklessdog]

I believe that Germany also possesses Giant Hamsters?

Cricetus cricetus can grow up to 32cm (12 inches) long, bringing them closer to the size of guinea pigs than the hamsters normally sold as pets. They also have large cheek pouches, which they fill with air while they swim.

Previously, the hamsters were kept at the Heidelberg Zoo in western Germany, but on Thursday they were to be released in the Prignitz district of the State eastern German State of Brandenburg, where the species had disappeared.

They won't live in the wild, but at a "hamster protection station," where they're expected to breed and establish a new German community of European hamsters. The European Commission reprimanded Germany in 2001 for letting farms and development threaten the hamsters' natural habitat.

[uwe]

"They won't live in the wild, but at a "hamster protection station," where they're expected to breed and establish a new German community of European hamsters."

Today ze breeding station, tomorrow ze wörld!

[Dave W]

Today ze breeding station, tomorrow ze wörld!

[SKATE RAT]

thats a whole lotta bunny !

[Lightyear]

COOK!!!!  Where's my HASSENPFEFFER!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

One of my all time fave Bugs Bunny episodes   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shishkabugs   

[MattK]

Growing up, we had a pair of Flemish Giant rabbits. Our buck(male) weighed in at a little over 22 pounds when I showed him for 4-H. They are very good-natured as long as you give them plenty of attention when they're small. You have to be careful when handling them as adults, though, because their hind legs are very strong and they have huge claws.

On a side note..... Domestic rabbit meat is delicious as long as it's young and you know how to cook it. 

[godofthunder]

 "COOK!!!!  Where's my HASSENPFEFFER!?!?!?!?!?!?!? " I love the old Warner Bro. stuff That Cook line is also one of my favorites, it gets used in our hose all the time.

[rahock]

23lbs?.....that bunny looks like it would be closer to 100lbs. The guy in the picture must be about 3 1/2 or 4 ft tall.

Rick

[Basvarken]

That is not an ordinary rabbit ... 'tis the most foul cruel and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on!

[Barklessdog]

They still have Dutch rabbits, yes?

[SKATE RAT]

there was also Hassenpfeffer ale.horrible cheap stuff,i haven't seen it in years.