The Golden Hares of Rathlin

Former sound engineer Annatomix has become particularly well known for her large scale murals, distinctive polygonal animals and geometric patterns. The Irish hare is one of Europe’s rarest animals and the only species of lagomorph native to Ireland. They’re believed to have existed there since before the last ice age but their numbers are now in steady decline – initially due to a change in farming methods but more recently, due to hunting. Some of the historically largest colonies of these hares are in Northern Ireland. The group at Aldergrove near Belfast is in decline but in contrast, the strongest group thrives on Rathlin Island, off the north coast of Ulster. It’s also home to a distinct genetic variation, exclusive to the island colony – the Rathlin ‘golden hare’.

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