That's One Big Rabbit

A retired German truck driver is set out to feed the hunger stricken peoples of North Korea by breeding German Gray Giant bunnies. Karl Szmolinsky started breeding these enormous bunny rabbits over 40 years ago and plans to continue. With this continuation, he is determined to feed the poor and hungry peoples of North Korea. Mr. Szmolinsky recently sold 12 of his rabbits to the North Korean government for breeding purposes. Raising giant, dog-like rabbits for food purposes actually seems to be a plausible start in correcting the hunger problem. In the mid 1990s, North Korea suffered a large famine, which killed thousands of people. The effects from this famine are still felt today, being that food shortages still occur.

From an Environmental Economics standpoint, is giant rabbit breeding going to have any harsh effects on the environment in North Korea? This shouldn’t be the case. Karl says that the rice, potatoes, and grass that are abundant in the Northern state are sufficient in being able to raise these rabbits that consume over 2 pounds of food per day.

Will these rabbits affect the market of livestock in North Korea? This is actually a trick question. North Korea is a communist state with a command economy, opposite of the free market that we enjoy in the United States, meaning that the economy is ran by the government.

So are bunny rabbits the magic solution to eliminating hunger in North Korea? It is likely that this will not be the “magic” solution, but a good beginning to solving the problem at hand. These giant bunnies will definitely bring a new perspective to the livestock industry.