A family of rabbits rescued after being abandoned in a High Wycombe park has grown to 20 after one of the animals gave birth, prompting a fundraising appeal from the RSPCA.
RSPCA South Bucks volunteers originally rescued eight domestic rabbits from Hughenden Park earlier this month after reports that the animals had been dumped and left to fend for themselves.
Now, two more four-week-old rabbits have been found at the same location, while mother rabbit Bianca has given birth to 10 kits, bringing the total number of rabbits in the charity's care to 20.
The rescue operation began after a member of the public spotted a rabbit loose in the park on Wednesday, July 9.
Over the following days, further sightings revealed an entire family of rabbits had been abandoned.
Volunteers, supported by local residents, spent several days searching the park, including overgrown areas near the riverbank, before capturing eight rabbits: six-year-old Bianca, one-year-old dad Huey and their six babies, River, Bramble, Twig, Daisy, Dawn and Sunny.
The charity said the rabbits were found in poor condition, particularly Bianca, whose back leg muscles were severely underdeveloped.
Carers believe she may have spent a long period confined in cramped conditions with little space to exercise.
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Karen Cruickshanks, head of RSPCA South Bucks, said: "A member of the public first spotted one abandoned rabbit on the loose last Wednesday night but, over the following three days, further reports made it clear that an entire family had simply been dumped in the park.
"Our wonderful volunteers, aided by some incredible members of the public, managed to round up and rescue eight rabbits, a mum, dad and their six babies.
"But now, unbelievably, another two more babies have been rescued and there are reports that there is also another adult rabbit out there, but they are currently proving evasive."
She said the situation had been made worse because the rabbits had not been neutered before being abandoned.
"So because this irresponsible owner did not get their rabbit neutered and then just discarded them like a piece of rubbish, we have another 20 rabbits in our care who will require neutering, vaccinations and then rehoming," she added.
The branch has now launched a fundraising appeal to help cover the growing costs of caring for the animals.
The charity estimates health checks, vaccinations and neutering for the original eight rabbits alone will cost around £2,000, before food and any additional veterinary treatment are taken into account.
RSPCA South Bucks currently cares for more than 100 animals through a network of volunteer foster homes, including 46 rabbits, 61 cats and kittens, and two guinea pigs.
Anyone wishing to support the appeal can donate via the RSPCA South Bucks JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/charity/rspca-southbucks.
