English Lop Rabbit: An Adorable Giant with Velvet Ears

The English Lop is a breed of domestic rabbit known for its enormous and soft ears that hang down the sides of its head. These rabbits are impressive for their beauty, size, and kind nature. They are one of the oldest and rarest rabbit breeds in the world. In this article, we will tell you about the history of their origin, appearance, character, and care for English Lops, as well as share some interesting facts about them.

Origin of the English Lop

The English Lop is a whimsical breed of domestic rabbit that was bred in England in the 19th century. It is considered the first rabbit breed created artificially through selection. It is believed that the English Lop is a descendant of wild rabbits crossed with other breeds such as the Flemish Giant, Belgian Hare, and Angora rabbit. The goal of the selection was to produce a rabbit with large, soft ears that were fashionable and popular at the time.

The English Lop was recognized as a breed in 1850. It was very sought after and expensive, so it was kept only by the wealthy and noble people. The English Lop became the basis for breeding other lop-eared rabbits such as the French Lop, Dutch Lop, and American Lop. Today, the English Lop is a rare and endangered breed, found in small numbers in Europe, America, and Australia.

Appearance and Characteristics of the English Lop

The English Lop is a large and sturdy rabbit with a long and muscular body, short and powerful legs, a round head, and large eyes. Its coat is short, smooth, and shiny. The average weight of an adult rabbit is between 4 and 6 kg.

The most noticeable and attractive feature of the English Lop is its ears. They are very long, wide, and thin, hanging down the sides of its head. The length of the ears can reach 70 cm, and the width — 15 cm. The ears of the English Lop are very soft and velvety to the touch. They can have various shapes and variations, but the ideal ears are considered to be those with equal length and width, without bends or folds.

The English Lop can have various coat colors, which are divided into solid and combination colors. Solid colors include white, black, gray, brown, cream, and others. Combination colors can be very diverse, including (but not limited to) such colors as black, orange/peach, blue, velvet, agouti/opal, chinchilla, as well as blue or black tortoiseshell.

The lifespan of the English Lop is between 5 and 8 years. This depends on the conditions of care, nutrition, and the rabbit's genetics.

Character and Temperament

The English Lop is a very friendly, affectionate, and calm rabbit that loves to interact with people and other animals. It quickly gets used to its owner and becomes a loyal and faithful friend. The English Lop loves to play, walk, and explore new places. It does not like loneliness and gets bored if left alone for a long time. It needs attention, care, and love.

The English Lop is suitable for children as it is very patient, gentle, and not aggressive. It can get along with other pets such as cats, dogs, hamsters, and other rabbits. However, care must be taken to ensure that other animals do not injure its ears or scare it. This rabbit does not like loud noises and sudden movements as it is very sensitive and timid.

The English Lop is an excellent pet that can bring much joy and happiness to its owner. It will be a loyal and faithful friend who will delight with its appearance and behavior.

Care and Maintenance

The English Lop is a rabbit that requires special care and maintenance to be healthy and happy. Below are some recommendations to follow.

Housing Arrangement

The English Lop needs a spacious and cozy home where it can move freely, rest, and play. The home can be in the form of an aviary or cage, which should be protected from cold, heat, wind, rain, and predators. The size of the home should be at least 1.5 meters in length, 0.8 meters in width, and 0.6 meters in height.

The home should include the following accessories: a food bowl, a water drinker, a toilet tray, a house or tunnel for hiding, bedding or a blanket for softness, toys for entertainment, and chew toys for grinding teeth.

Rabbit Nutrition

The English Lop should receive a balanced and varied diet consisting of hay, grains, vegetables, fruits, and vitamins.

Hay should be the main part of the diet as it provides the rabbit with fiber necessary for the normal functioning of the digestive system.

Grains should be in the form of special pellets for rabbits that contain all the necessary nutrients.

Vegetables and fruits should be fresh and clean and given in small quantities as they can cause stomach upset or diabetes.

Vitamins and minerals should be in the form of supplements or lick stones that help strengthen the rabbit's immunity and health.

Drinking water should be clean and fresh and always available to the rabbit.

Prohibited foods for the rabbit include bread, milk, cheese, meat, fish, sugar, salt, chocolate, chips, cookies, and other human foods.

Coat and Ear Care

The English Lop has short and smooth fur that does not require frequent brushing. However, during the molting period, when the rabbit sheds its old fur, it needs help to brush it with a special brush or comb to avoid the formation of mats and tangles. It is also necessary to keep the fur clean and dry, and if necessary, wipe it with a damp cloth or soft brush.

The ears of the English Lop are its main adornment and the most vulnerable part of its body. The ears should be regularly inspected for dirt, wax, mites, wounds, or inflammations. If the ears are dirty, they should be gently wiped with a cotton swab moistened in warm water or a special ear solution. If the ears are damaged or inflamed, a veterinarian should be consulted for help.

Hygiene

The English Lop is a clean and tidy rabbit that takes care of its hygiene. It often washes, licks its fur, and cleans its ears. However, the owner also needs to monitor the hygiene of their pet and its home.

The cage or aviary should be regularly cleaned of dirt, debris, food remnants, and excrement. The toilet tray should be emptied and washed every day. The food bowl and water drinker should be washed and filled with fresh products every day. Bedding or blankets should be washed or replaced with new ones every week.

Safe and natural products should be used to clean the home and accessories, which will not harm the rabbit's health. The filler for the toilet tray should be made of natural materials such as sawdust, straw, hay, or paper, which absorb moisture and odor well.

Interesting Facts About English Lops

This unusual breed has many interesting and amazing facts related to its history, appearance, and character. Here are some of them:

• The English Lop holds the world record for ear length. The longest ears were registered in 2003 on a rabbit named Nipper from England. The length of its ears was 79 cm.
• The English Lop is one of the heaviest rabbits in the world. The heaviest is considered a rabbit named Ralph from England, who weighed 25 kg in 2010.
• The English Lop is one of the rarest and endangered breeds in the world. According to the International Rabbit Breeders Association, only 5,000 English Lops were registered worldwide in 2019.
• The English Lop is one of the most beautiful and unique rabbits in the world. It has many different and rare colors, such as blue, sable, Siamese, harlequin, agouti, white with blue eyes. There are also English Lops with the Himalayan gene, which have a white body color and dark tips of the ears, nose, paws, and tail.
• The English Lop is one of the kindest and most affectionate rabbits in the world. It loves to cuddle, kiss, and sit on its owner's lap.
• The English Lop is one of the most famous and popular rabbits in the world. It has been depicted on many pictures, postcards, stamps, and coins. It has also become the prototype for many characters in books, cartoons, and games, such as the White Rabbit from "Alice in Wonderland," Loppi from "Peter Rabbit," and Bigglesworth from "Austin Powers."
• The English Lop was the prototype for one of the most famous rabbits in the world — Bugs Bunny. Initially, Bugs Bunny was drawn based on the English Lop that lived in the New York Zoo in the 1930s.
• The English Lop was one of Queen Victoria's favorite animals, who kept several rabbits of this breed in her palace. She also gifted one of her rabbits to US President Abraham Lincoln as a sign of friendship between the two countries.
• The English Lop is one of the most valuable and expensive rabbits in the world. Its price can reach several thousand dollars, depending on the rarity of the color, ear length, and pedigree. It is also considered a symbol of luxury and status.

The English Lop is an amazing breed that combines beauty, gentleness, intelligence, and loyalty. It can become a wonderful pet that will delight its owner with its appearance and behavior. The English Lop is a charming giant with velvety ears.