Page 20 - The World of Animals
P. 20
RABBITS
LIKE CARROTS!
Would you like to learn a bit more about rabbits, the loveable
little living creatures we sometimes keep in our houses as pets? We
always think of them with their snow-white fur, which we take
such pleasure in stroking, and the way they gnaw carrots. Let’s
explore some of the interesting characteristics of these animals
with which we are not familiar:
18 If you try to approach a rabbit, you will
immediately recognise how fast it escapes. Do you
know that these creatures can readily sense their
enemies with their long ears even while their heads
are down eating grass? Owing to this keen sense of
hearing, you can hardly approach them without them
noticing you. Before long, they will perceive a minor
noise or movement and will run away.
Rabbits become 50 to 70 centimetres (19
to 27 inches) long when they grow into
adults. Their hind limbs are longer and
stronger than their forelimbs. That is
why they can run 60 to 70 kilometres
(37 to 43 miles) per hour and can leap
