Franciscan sisters in Spain are preserving an endangered giant rabbit breed, blending tradition, conservation, and faith-driven care.
Newsroom (07/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Inside the Convent of St. Anthony of Padua in central Spain, the day begins not with quiet prayer alone, but with the careful inspection of cages housing dozens of giant rabbits. Leading this unusual routine is Sister Consuelo Peset Laudeña, a 54-year-old abbess whose work blends religious devotion with hands-on conservation.
Each morning, before breakfast, Sister Consuelo checks the health of 35 adult rabbits and their young, assessing their condition with the trained eye of a veterinary assistant. She scans for lethargy, illness, or death among the animals—sometimes detecting problems by something as subtle as the smell of urine.
Her work is part of a broader mission: preserving Spain’s giant rabbit, a breed now at risk of extinction.
A Living Piece of History
For Sister Consuelo, the rabbit represents more than biodiversity. It is a symbol of Spain’s past. During the Spanish Civil War and the difficult postwar years, these animals were a vital food source for families and orphanages struggling through scarcity.
“Many families have managed to get by thanks to this animal,” she said. “Now it seems we are forgetting that part of our history.”
In regions such as Valencia, Madrid, and Asturias, farms once maintained hundreds of breeding females, helping sustain vulnerable populations. The breed itself—developed from a cross between Flanders Giant and Spanish brown-type rabbits—can weigh up to 20 pounds and reproduce rapidly, with females capable of bearing up to 22 pups per month.
From Tradition to Conservation
The convent’s involvement began more than 30 years ago, when Sister Consuelo received a pair of rabbits from her parents. What started as a source of personal food gradually evolved into a conservation effort after the sisters learned the breed was endangered.
With permits from local authorities and an initial investment of around 5,000 euros, the community established a small but structured breeding program. Today, each rabbit is tracked with a microchip, complete with pedigree and feeding records to prevent inbreeding and ensure genetic health.
Three of the convent’s 11 sisters now dedicate themselves to the farm. Their work is meticulous. Cleaning occurs every two days, with full cage disinfection weekly. Temperature is carefully monitored, as rabbits struggle in heat above 26°C but tolerate cold conditions well.
Feeding is equally precise, with measured rations of hay, barley, and corn. Rabbits with young receive additional feed to support growth. By the end of March, the convent had recorded 90 young rabbits.
Limits and Challenges
Despite the program’s success, its impact is constrained by regulation. The sisters are not permitted to sell the rabbits, as their license allows only breeding for personal consumption. Instead, they promote conservation by donating animals to schools, a theme park in Toledo, and registered breeders.
Sister Consuelo argues that without economic incentives, wider adoption of the breed will remain limited.
“If this animal doesn’t have an economic outlet, people won’t be encouraged to raise it,” she said, calling on authorities to expand permits and support.
Financially, the convent sustains itself largely through the sisters’ labor, including the production of artisanal sweets and ice cream sold on-site. A recent grant from the local council helped repair aging cages, but broader institutional backing remains limited.
Faith and Environmental Stewardship
For the sisters, the work is not only practical but spiritual. Sister Consuelo connects the project to Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls for environmental stewardship and care for creation.
“We have to protect creation,” she said. “We are Franciscans.”
That identity, rooted in the legacy of St. Francis of Assisi—the patron saint of animals and veterinarians—shapes their daily commitment. In the quiet rhythms of convent life, the preservation of a nearly forgotten breed has become both an act of memory and a form of faith in action.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from OSV News
Related Images:
