A giant rabbit has caused a sensation online after appearing iin a video shared on Twitter – with some comparing its size to a small human or capybara.
The video – posted on August 11 by Twitter user @Rainmaker1973 – shows the colossal creature being held up by a man named Donizete Teixeira Barbosa.
Donizete is a zootechnician, veterinarian and Flemish Giant rabbit breeder in Brazil, who has many social media accounts that give a glimpse into how the bunnies are raised.
With almost 500,000 followers on his TikTok and 270,000 on Instagram – both under the name Coelho Gigante Dois Irmãos, meaning ‘Giant Rabbit Two Brothers’ – the huge herbivores have proven to be a subject of interest within the wider sphere.
In the seven-second Twitter video, Donizete’s hands look astonishingly tiny as he holds up the giant rabbit to show its dimensions.
A Flemish Giant rabbit appearing in a video shared on Twitter has left people shocked – with some comparing its size to a small human or capybara
User @Rainmaker1973, who re-posted Donizete’s TikTok video, translates the Brazilian’s words into an accompanying caption, which reads: ‘The male Flemish Giant rabbit can weigh up to 22 pounds (10 kg)
‘The female can get up to 20 pounds (9 kg). At most, they grow to be 2.5 feet long (70 cm).’
Some users were so shocked at the size of the fluffy giant that they attempted to compare it to other species.
One wrote, ‘Looks like a kangaroo,’ while another said, ‘You can’t fool me me, that’s a baby capybara.’
One individual found the animal to be more adorable as a larger-sized rabbit, saying: ‘Still at that size cute as a button.’
A number of people commented that the rabbit’s size could be compared to a small human, with one writing: ‘Dude unless that’s a super tiny human that rabbit way bigger than the specs provided.’
Another amazed user said: ‘Why am I not surprised that a rabbit can be almost as big as me.’
Some people joked that they would use the rabbit as a form of deterrence or intimidation, with one saying: ‘Wish I had some of these around here. Help keep the weeds in the field down.’
Some users were so shocked at the size of the fluffy giant that they attempted to compare it to other species, while some joked that the rabbit could be used as a deterrent
Another individual wrote: ‘May I borrow him? Just want to make my dog stop chasing rabbits, lol.’
A final user, who became disturbed by the size of the rabbit, said: ‘Wow. Quite a large rabbit. If approached at night, in the dusky glade, I would most certainly RUN!!!!!!!!!!’
According to Mental Floss, Flemish Giant rabbits are considered the largest breed in the world – with one male Flemish named Darius setting a world record at just over 4 feet long and weighing 22kg.
Fresh hay is a significant part of their diets, and high-quality protein pellets help sustain their huge appetites, as well as certain fruits and vegetables such as: carrot tops, apples, bell peppers, and bananas.
In June 2023, TikTok users were horrified at footage of a ‘mutant pigeon’ with long legs and a puffed chest – which turned out to be a specific breed of the bird.