Giant pink Hungry Bunny sculpture goes up for sale in Nanaimo

WATCH: A bright pink public art piece designed to get people talking about the feral rabbit problem in Nanaimo is on the move and looking for a new home. The towering steel structure called Hungry Bunny is a head turner though it doesn’t come cheap. Skye Ryan reports. 

There is little that can stop a person in their tracks along Nanaimo’s waterfront quite like a giant pink rabbit in the shape of a hammerhead that artist Dale Schulz built from a drawing in his mind into an 800-pound steel sculpture.

“It was a lot bigger thing than I expected you know,” said Schulz, who comes from Nanaimo.

Dubbed Hungry Bunny, the sculpture becomes a favourite of photographers and has been snapped by tourists from around the world but it has also attracted a lot of puzzled expressions. Schulz knows not everyone feels his love for this bunny.

“If I was a kid, I’d probably be scared to look at the thing,” said Nanaimo man Warren Sergeant while staring at the big pink bunny.

“Well it’s funny you should say that because kids love it,” said Schulz in response.

“It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but some of the comments you just have to laugh right,” added Schulz.

“Reactions have ranged from one end of the spectrum to the other from its a big pink eyesore to its probably the most important piece of artwork that we’ve had in Nanaimo.”

That was just what this Nanaimo artist was looking to do. He wanted to artistically hit people over the head with a giant pink hammer to get them talking about the feral rabbit problem in Nanaimo that’s now estimated to run up to 1,000 animals, which are eating up the city’s vegetation.

“It cost me $15,000 to build it,” said the Nanaimo artist. “I hope it doesn’t use end up in my backyard rusting away somewhere you know.”

Hungry Bunny is slated to be removed from Nanaimo’s public art installation this Spring. So Schulz is looking to sell the head turner and his pricetag’s just as jaw-dropping as the expression on Hungry Bunny’s face.

“I’ve put an asking price of nearly $35,000 on it,” said Schulz.

So far two potential buyers have already emerged, though Schulz is still waiting for something concrete to find Hungry Bunny a forever home where it’s sure to turn heads wherever it goes.

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