Mystery in the Mediterranean: A Quadriplegic Rabbit in Gozo

Imagine, if you will, the sun-kissed fields of Gozo, Malta’s sister island, known for its tranquility and rural charm. Now, picture this: a rabbit, not hopping merrily, but lying still, its four legs snapped. This is not a scene from a Grimm’s fairy tale, but a reality that recently unfolded in the heart of the Mediterranean.

Discovery and Rescue

It was a warm afternoon in Xewkija, a village nestled in the center of Gozo, when local resident, Joseph Camilleri, stumbled upon the injured rabbit. “I was walking my dog when I saw something moving in the tall grass,” he recalls. “At first, I thought it was a bird, but as I got closer, I realized it was a rabbit, and it was in a bad way.”

Joseph, with the help of his neighbor, carefully picked up the rabbit and rushed it to the nearest vet, Dr. Marie Claire Attard Montalto at the Gozo Veterinary Clinic. The vet was shocked by the rabbit’s condition. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” she says, “All four legs were broken, and it was clear the rabbit had been through a lot.”

Unraveling the Mystery

Dr. Marie Claire immediately set to work, stabilizing the rabbit’s fractures and providing pain relief. But the question remained: how did this happen? Rabbits don’t typically break all four legs at once. The vet and Joseph began to piece together the puzzle.

“We considered all possibilities,” says Dr. Marie Claire. “It couldn’t have been a dog attack, as the injuries were too uniform. We thought about a fall from a great height, but the injuries didn’t match. Then we considered something heavy falling on the rabbit, like a branch in a storm.”

Joseph, meanwhile, started asking around. He learned that a severe storm had hit the island a few nights before. “The winds were so strong, they uprooted trees and caused branches to fall,” he says. “It’s possible that a heavy branch fell on the rabbit, snapping its legs.”

Recovery and Hope

The rabbit, now named ‘Lucky’ by Dr. Marie Claire, is making a slow but steady recovery. Its legs have been set in plaster casts, and it’s receiving round-the-clock care. “It’s a miracle the rabbit survived such injuries,” says the vet. “But rabbits are resilient creatures, and Lucky is a fighter.”

News of Lucky’s plight has spread across Gozo, with many locals expressing their concern and offering help. A local charity, ‘Gozo Animal Welfare’, has stepped in to cover Lucky’s medical expenses. “We’re glad we could help,” says the charity’s founder, Maria Grech. “Lucky’s story has touched many hearts in Gozo.”

As for Lucky’s future, Dr. Marie Claire is optimistic. “With time and care, Lucky could make a full recovery. We’re hoping to release him back into the wild, where he belongs.”

In the meantime, Lucky’s story serves as a reminder of the unexpected challenges our wildlife faces, even in the peaceful fields of Gozo. It also of local animal welfare initiatives, like ‘Gozo Animal Welfare’, that strive to protect and care for our island’s creatures.

So, the next time you’re in Gozo, keep an eye out for Lucky. He might be hopping around, a testament to resilience and the power of community care.