Clever rabbits ride sheep to escape flood

When these wild rabbits were facing floodwaters, they had to think outside the box.

So they hopped onto a flock of sheep, as per a video shot by 64-year-old farmer Ferg Horne on his property near Dunedin, New Zealand, on Saturday.

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"I couldn't believe it for a start," he told AP. 

Horne was helping a neighbour rescue 40 sheep from floodwaters, as a result of heavy storms in the country's South Island. He noticed some "dark shapes in the distance," and when he got closer there were three rabbits — two perched on one sheep, another on a single sheep.

Rabbits are typically considered pests in New Zealand, but Horne was enamoured by their efforts to survive and said "they deserved to live."

So he steered the herd to dry ground located 50 meters (164 feet) away, as the rabbits clung onto the sheeps' wool.

"As they jumped through the water, the rabbits had a jolly good try at staying on," he said. When the sheep reached higher ground, the rabbits fell off but climbed a hedge to reach safety. 

Horne left, but returned later and saw the brave bunnies were long gone. 

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