Distribution of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Romania

peer reviewedThe European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is a widespread colonizer and is considered a pest outside its natural range, where eradication of the rabbit is priority for conservation. Original distribution of the after last ice age included Iberian Peninsula (both Spain and Portugal) to western France and northern Africa, and the introduction throughout Western Europe is thought to have occurred as early as the Roman period. It is debatable if European rabbit is native or not to Romania; IUCN lists it as introduced, being native only to: Algeria, France, Gibraltar, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. The European rabbit was introduced or re-introduced in Romania for hunting purposes in counties such as: Alba, Bacău, Botoşani, Braşov, Buzău, Covasna, Dolj, Iaşi, Ilfov, Maramureş, Mureş, Prahova, Sibiu, Timiş and Vîlcea. Many introductions date long time ago, some of them before 1900s. At present, it can be found only in two counties: for sure in Timiş (Timiş Meadow) and possible in Sibiu. In most of other counties where it was introduced the rabbit populations are extinct in the wild. The reasons for these extinctions are the nature of the soil, cold winters, predators and pathogens. Even in low number, the European rabbit is a species of hunting purpose and according to Romanian legislation it can be hunt all year long for meat and fur. It is also a reservoir of wild genes, useful for the genetic improvement of the domestic rabbit. The invasive potential of Oryctolagus cuniculus in Romania is quite low. The present research maps the main populations of European rabbits in Romania