In an unexpected twist to the annual Cadbury Bunny Tryouts, a raccoon has hopped away with the top honors. Meet Louie, a two-year-old trash panda from Miami, who has been crowned the 2024 Cadbury Bunny, the first of his kind to snag the title. This social media influencer beat out a diverse roster of 31 other contestants, including a miniature horse and bearded dragons, to claim his spot in the limelight.
With over 378,000 followers on Instagram, Louie's online presence is quite strong for someone who's supposed to be scouring through garbage, not garnering likes and comments. According to a WSVN interview, Jaime Arslan, Louie's mom and a former veterinary technician, told Louie he had won, and demonstrating his raccoon nature, "he proceeded to literally take the water bottle out of my hand that I was drinking and walk off with it, so he's representing raccoons perfectly."
The $7,000 prize money from the competition is being donated to a Florida-based wildlife rescue organization, a gesture that underscores Arslan's deep commitment to wildlife, which somehow seems even more heartwarming considering Louie's backstory of being deemed unfit to return to the wild. Eager to share Louie’s spunk with the world, Arslan looks forward to him starring in a Cadbury TV commercial. According to WSVN, his unexpected sense of fashion will likely make its way into the ad, "In Miami, he's kind of known as a little bit of a fashionista."
The contest, which saw a spirited bracket-style elimination tournament on Instagram, received enthusiastic participation from pet lovers across the country. Natalie Shuntich, senior associate marketing manager at The Hershey Company, highlighted the fresh approach to this year's competition, "Each year we look forward to crowning a new Cadbury Bunny, especially this year where we engaged fans in a new way through our bracket-style competition," according to a PR Newswire release. They are now, indeed, a proud addition to the Cadbury Bunny Tryouts Hall of Fame, keeping company with previous winners like Crash the Rescue Cat and Henri the English Bulldog.
As Louie prepares for his television debut in the 2025 Cadbury commercial, fans can look forward to seeing more of this furry phenomenon. In the meantime, his account continues to not only capture the hearts of followers but also to educate on raccoon behavior and diet, challenging the traditional view of these masked mammals as mere pests. Watch for Louie's starring role next year, and perhaps start considering whether your own pet has what it takes to compete for the coveted Cadbury Bunny ears.
