Rabbits fast burrowing into chicken markets post-avian flu

As India's poultry industry tries hard to undo the scare caused by a second outbreak of bird flu, poultry farmers in Tripura have taken up rabbit farming and are reaping the benefits.

The consecutive outbreaks of bird flu have forced people to take to rabbit farming.

In fact, rabbit farmers contend the demand for the soft meat has witnessed increase post bird flu.

With bird flu taking a toll on the Indian poultry industry, low cholesterol rabbit meat is in high demand and is substituting chicken in the state.

"Earlier, rabbits were found in the wild but with the destruction of the forests their population has vanished. But after the outbreak of bird flu, we started rearing rabbits in farms and found that it is profitable. Many people do not prefer chicken meat these days, instead rabbit meat is being preferred," said Tapas Debbarma, a rabbit farmer.

The farmers maintain that rabbit farming involves low cost investment as rabbits are highly prolific in nature and can be reared in small kitchen gardens or even in backyards.