What's up Doc? Meet Vincent the rabbit born without ears
By
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:47 AM on 23rd December 2008
For a moment teenager John Haig thought a guinea pig had found its way into his family of young rabbits.
One of the young animals that came bouncing out of a hutch with the rest of the brood was lacking something - a pair of ears.
But the little creature was indeed a rabbit, otherwise healthy and part of a family of ten brothers and sisters.
Bucking the trend: Vincent, the young rabbit with no ears, is otherwise perfectly healthy
He has been named Vincent - in honour of Van Gogh, the painter who cut off his own ear - by 16-year-old John.
'I've never seen one like that before,' he said. 'He's perfectly healthy, he's just got no ears.'
The farming student, who lives with his mother Carol, 59, in Burn, North Yorkshire, has been breeding rabbits since he was 11.
Vincent (right) with his mother Rosie. He looks more like a guinea pig
He spotted Vincent when the youngsters emerged with their mother Rosie for the first time from their hutch at three weeks old.
Mrs Haig, who also has a dog, a cat, 12 guinea pigs, and some fish, said that the missing ears could be result of a genetic defect.
Another theory is that his ears may have been bitten off by his mother. Female rabbits are known to attack their offspring if they are distressed.
Owner John Haigh, 16, with his ears-free bunny
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That is clearly NOT a Guinea pig, Guinea pigs have hairless feet and very, very short front AND back legs.
I have an earless bunny too, Miss Inga ('missing-ear'). Her mother nipped off her ears shortly following her birth - which is probably what happened to Vincent.
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If I'd just given birth to 10 babies I'd be distressed too!
- Reneedo, Toronto, Canada, 24/12/2008 06:36