Once-extinct-from-sight wild rabbit spotted again in Kuwait Reserve
- Al-Awadhi credited the return of wild rabbit to Kabd reserves to positive progress in environmental protection efforts, stronger enforcement of environmental laws and reduced illegal hunting
In a sign of improving wildlife conditions and the success of national environmental protection efforts, the wild rabbit has been spotted again in one of the reserves in Kuwait’s Kabd area after years of absence.
Aref Al-Awadhi, a member of the Kuwaiti Environmental Lens team, told Al-Rai that the sighting marks the first appearance of the wild rabbit in the reserve in years, after it had largely disappeared from protected areas due to excessive hunting that also affected other wildlife species.
He said the implementation of the Environmental Protection Law, along with the active enforcement role of the Environmental Police, has helped curb violations against wildlife and create a safer habitat, enabling several species, including the wild rabbit, to return to their natural environment.
Al-Awadhi described the wild rabbit as a nocturnal desert mammal known for its solitary behavior and exceptional ability to camouflage, making it difficult to observe in the wild. He noted that it is widely distributed across desert ecosystems and is highly adapted to harsh climatic conditions, with fur that blends into sandy terrain to protect it from predators.
He added that the species inhabits sandy plains, open deserts, plateaus, and mountainous areas. It is characterized by a slender body, large eyes, short tail, and fur ranging from gray to reddish-brown, with a white underside and a tail marked in black and white.
According to Al-Awadhi, the wild rabbit possesses strong senses of sight and smell, allowing it to detect danger early, and can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour to escape predators. It is primarily active at night, occasionally appearing at dusk or dawn in search of vegetation, while spending daytime hours hidden in vegetation or rocky shelters.
He further explained that the rabbit typically breeds in spring, with a gestation period of around 40 days. Females give birth to three to six offspring, which become independent after about a month, while reaching maturity at around eight months. The species has an average lifespan of up to nine years.
Al-Awadhi said the return of the wild rabbit to Kabd reserves reflects positive progress in environmental protection efforts, stressing that stronger enforcement of environmental laws and reduced illegal hunting are key factors in restoring ecological balance and encouraging the return of wildlife to Kuwait’s natural habitats.
