Chief Rabbit

The Chief Rabbit is the leader of a Warren. The Chief has absolute authority over his or her warren and controls the Owsla of that warren.

Summary[]

In the novel and film, the first Chief Rabbit to be seen and encountered was the Threarah (simply referred to as Chief Rabbit in the film). He thought Fiver was incorrect that Sandleford Warren would be destroyed, but was proven wrong. Not much about the Threarah is known, but his name means "rowan tree" in Lapine. His nephew is Silver, who would later go on to join Hazel on his journey. Threarah got his position from not only his calmness but strength in his prime.

The second Chief Rabbit to be encountered was Cowslip. Though his official consideration as a Chief Rabbit of the Warren of the Shining Wire was not confirmed until the television series. He has a very easygoing personality, and is convinced that rabbit mythology is mere stories. It's also confirmed in the TV series that he knows where the snares are placed.

Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and several other rabbits founded their own warren at Watership Down, after a great deal of exploring. Hazel was the Chief Rabbit. He is a strong leader with a talent for bringing out the best in every rabbit.

Watership-down1 — General Woundwort was the founder and Chief Rabbit of Efrafa until his death.

General Woundwort was the former Chief Rabbit of Efrafa. He was tricked by Bigwig and lost all his does. Later on, Woundwort went to war and attacked Watership Down as revenge and to steal back his does, During the fight, Bob the dog was released from the farm following a brutal fight between Woundwort and Bigwig. Woundwort later went out to fight the dog, but his fate is left uncertain, allowing his spirit to live on as a bogeyman in rabbit folklore. General Woundwort was a cruel and unforgiving tyrant who ruled as a dictator over his miserable warren. In the TV series, Woundwort lives on and takes over Redstone Warren as his stepping stones to success, eventually abandoning the warren and leaving for Darkhaven.

Captain Campion, former Efrafan Owsla officer, became the new Chief Rabbit following the defeat of General Woundwort, though much less strict and more sympathetic, allowing for a pact of peace with the Watership rabbits.

Groundsel is the founder and Chief Rabbit of Vleflain, a warren started as a place for both Efrafan and Watership rabbits to live together in harmony.

In Tales from Watership Down, Vilthuril tells Hazel about a doe named Flyairth who became the founder and Chief Rabbit of a warren called Thinial, which was a warren created and ruled by does. Flyairth and her mate Prake shared the Chief Rabbit position together. However, she was eventually expelled from the warren due to her growing obsession with the white blindness.

Taking inspiration from Flyairth, Hazel later named Hyzenthlay co-Chief Rabbit of Watership Down.

Television series only[]

Hickory, a rabbit who escaped Cowslip's warren with some others, became chief of the then-abandoned Redstone Warren with the help of his doe, Marigold. General Woundwort came to the warren as Wheatstalk and Vervain as Chaff, Hickory, being gullible, let Woundwort take leadership.

Captain Moss and his mate Heather set out to find their own warren following the Battle of Watership Down along with the other remaining Efrafan rabbits.

Granite was chief of Darkhaven Warren before Campion's arrival. He was then defeated by said rabbit in single combat, forfeiting the position to him for a brief time.

Noted Chief Rabbits[]

Trivia[]

Traditionally, the Chief rabbit would have the Lapine suffix -rah attached to the end of their name, though there are some exceptions, most notably in the TV show.