Two antlered rabbits recently made their way to
Osaka, Japan, from the world capital of the jackalope, Douglas,
Wyo. Japanese customs officials found the man-made novelties while
searching the luggage of Douglas, Wyo., trade delegate, John Blair.
Unable to understand the animals’ identity, officials began to look
for jackalope on a list of endangered species. No funny bunny
there, but officials did dig up literature explaining the Western
legend. The rabbit-antelope hybrid is supposed to attain speeds of
90 mph and sing or mate during thunderstorms. Blair and three other
Wyoming trade delegates had planned to present jackalopes to the
mayor, who upon hearing of the confusion, sent a limousine to
deliver the delegation to city hall. Douglas resident Tim Stamp
reported that Japanese officials were “very diplomatic and solemn
until they wanted to see the “rabbit with horns.”
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This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Jackalopes in Japan.
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