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[]
The Threarah was the Chief Rabbit of the Sandleford Warren.
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. The Threarah got his position from not only his calmness but strength in his prime.
El-ahrairah is a legendary Chief Rabbit and trickster folk hero.
Cowslip is the Chief Rabbit of his warren, known as the The Warren of Snares.
Hazel founded his own warren after many dangerous situations.
Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and several other rabbits founded their own warren at Watership Down, after a great deal of exploring. Hazel became the Chief Rabbit. He is a strong leader with a talent for bringing out the best in every rabbit.
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, Hazel lured Bob the dog from the farm following a brutal fight between Woundwort and Bigwig. Woundwort went out to fight the dog, but his fate is left uncertain, allowing his spirit to live on as a bogeyman in rabbit folklore. 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 for a time, eventually abandoning the warren and leaving for Darkhaven, where he also becomes chief.
Campion became the Efrafan Chief Rabbit after Woundwort's defeat.
Captain Campion, a 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. In the television series, he was temporarily chief of Darkhaven, until he surrendered the position to Woundwort.
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 another doe named Prake shared the Chief Rabbit position together. However, Flyairth 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.
Burdock was a Chief Rabbit from the folkloric time of El-ahrairah, mentioned in Tales from Watership Down.
Television series only[]
While Cowslip was not a chief in the book, he was Chief Rabbit of the Warren of the Shining Wire in the television series. He has a very easygoing personality, and is convinced that rabbit mythology is mere stories. In the TV series, it is confirmed that he knows where the snares are placed.
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 and Vervain came to the warren under the names of Wheatstalk and Chaff. Hickory, being gullible, let Woundwort take leadership.
A doe named Buttercup makes a brief appearance as chief of her own warren, located in the center of a hedge maze on the grounds of a mansion.
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 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[]
- Hazel
- Cowslip (TV series only)
- General Woundwort
- Threarah
- El-ahrairah
- Campion
- Groundsel (books only)
- Granite (TV series only)
- Buttercup (TV series only)
- Hickory (TV series only)
- Hyzenthlay (books only)
- Flyairth (books only)
- Prake (books only)
- Moss (TV series only)
- Burdock (books only)
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.