The Economic Times

In 1865, rabbits were released on a remote New Zealand island as emergency food for shipwreck survivors; they survived for 127 years and developed distinctive traits

In 1865, rabbits were brought to Enderby Island, evolving distinct traits over the next 127 years. As conservation efforts aimed to restore the island's ecosystem, authorities grappled with the challenge of balancing the removal of these introduced species with their unique identity. Ultimately, fifty rabbits were relocated to the mainland, allowing for the preservation of the Enderby rabbit lineage through managed breeding programs in New Zealand.