Project Majano: improving rabbit breeding and reducing parasites

The Extremadura Hunting Federation (FEDEXCAZA) has obtained the final results of the MAJANO Project, a pioneering study that has made it possible to develop a new artificial warren model for the wild rabbit, with technical, health and biological advances that will represent a decisive step toward the recovery of this key species in Mediterranean ecosystems.

The project, developed by Grupo Ecohábitat Ibérico S.L. thanks to research grants promoted by FEDEXCAZA and with the technical collaboration of the Technological Institute of Ornamental Rocks and Construction Materials (INTROMAC), has led to an innovative infrastructure designed specifically to address one of the major challenges facing the conservation of the wild rabbit in Extremadura: the lack of suitable refuges for its reproduction, especially on hard, stony and shallow terrain.

The recovery of the wild rabbit is essential not only from a hunting perspective, but also from an ecological one, as it is a basic species in the Mediterranean food chain and a key element for the survival of emblematic species such as the Iberian lynx or the Spanish imperial eagle.

A new artificial majano model

In this regard, the new artificial majano model developed within the framework of this project represents a qualitative leap compared with traditional systems. On the one hand, it is made with lightweight, resistant concrete, with antibacterial qualities and the capacity to improve the thermal conditions and humidity inside.

On the other hand, its modular design, based on a system of galleries and breeding chambers, is adapted to the biology of the species and incorporates important structural innovations aimed at improving hygiene, health and parasite-control conditions, as well as protection from predators. In addition, it has interchangeable access openings that make predator activity more difficult and create a passive deworming system.

Fewer predators and parasites

The field trials carried out during the project have confirmed a high level of acceptance by rabbits and notable effectiveness in reducing predation pressure, especially from species such as the fox or the Egyptian mongoose. They have also demonstrated optimal structural performance under real conditions and a virtually nonexistent presence of disease-transmitting ectoparasites.

Following the final validation of the model and the economic viability analysis carried out in the final phase of the project, FEDEXCAZA announces that this innovative majano will begin its marketing process in the near future, with the aim of making it available to hunting managers, local hunters’ associations, administrations and estate owners interested in improving rabbit populations and supporting the conservation of their habitats.

With this initiative, FEDEXCAZA strengthens its commitment to research, innovation and the transfer of knowledge to the hunting sector, promoting real solutions that can be applied on the ground to address one of the main conservation challenges for wildlife in Extremadura.