KLANG: To commemorate the Year of the Rabbit, a pet store here has imported two varieties of show rabbits which have mostly been snapped up by hobbyists and breeders.
Petstar Exotic Pets brought in five each of the Checkered Giant and German Lop breeds as there was a lot of demand for show rabbits in conjunction with lunar new year which falls tomorrow.
“We ordered the rabbits from a breeder in the Czech Republic two months ago and received them about two weeks ago,” said store owner Chiew Yih Shin.
According to Chiew, eight of the 10 rabbits had been sold and the store would keep the remaining two.
“A Checkered Giant costs between RM6,000 and RM10,000 while the German Lop sells for RM5,000 to RM9,000 depending on the size and the coat,” he added.
He said the rabbits need a cool habitat, preferably in an air-conditioned room.
The Checkered Giant, which originated from France where it is known as the Geant Papillon, can reach almost 5kg in weight while the German Lop, a native of Germany, is a muscular breed which can reach up to 3.6kg.
Animal Sanctuary Furry Friends Farm president Myza Nordin said rabbits are not easy to look after and not many veterinary clinics are available to treat them.
“Rabbits are fragile and can even die of stress.
“The imported species usually come with multi-layered fur and this makes it difficult for these animals to adapt to the Malaysian climate,” she pointed out, adding that local rabbit breeds were also selling like hotcakes.
Myza expressed her unhappiness that people were buying animals to commemorate the new year.
“Sometimes people who buy animals on impulse end up dumping them,” she said.
She noted that those who make impulse purchases of pets without knowing much about the animals often find themselves in a difficult situation after the novelty wears off.
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