The domestic rabbit is a descendent of the European wild rabbit that is a popular game animal and source of food in many countries. Rabbits were often introduced onto islands by travellers with the aim of providing a food source on their return and their high reproduction rate meant that they successfully became established in the wild in most places where they were introduced. Rabbits were introduced by humans into the Mediterranean in Roman times and throughout much of Europe during the Middle Ages.

The rabbit exists in the wild today in every continent except for Asia and Antarctica and is considered an agricultural pest as they eat crops and compete with farm animals for forage.

Selective breeding and domestication of the rabbit has been carried out for over 1,000 years and rabbits have been raised commercially for meat, skins and wool as well as being widely used in laboratories.