Welfare of Wild Rabbits — Myxomatosis, RVHD, and Population Management

Wild rabbit welfare in the UK and Europe is shaped by two devastating viral diseases that cause mass mortality through prolonged suffering.

Key Facts

Myxomatosis was deliberately introduced to Australia in 1950 and spread to Europe — killing 95% of UK rabbits initially
Myxomatosis causes swollen eyes, genitals, and skin lesions — death occurs over 10-14 days of progressive suffering
Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD) kills more rapidly — typically within 48 hours of infection
RVHD2, a new strain first detected in 2010, has spread across Europe and causes significant wild rabbit mortality
Wild rabbits cannot be vaccinated at scale — disease management relies on population dynamics
Domestic rabbits are highly vulnerable to both diseases — vaccination is available and strongly recommended
Myxomatosis was deliberately spread in some European countries as pest control — the welfare implications are severe

Welfare Considerations

Wild rabbit welfare under myxomatosis represents one of the most consequential deliberate introductions in conservation history from a welfare perspective. Myxomatosis deaths are not rapid — rabbits suffer for 10-14 days as the disease progresses. The initial UK epidemic killed tens of millions of rabbits in prolonged suffering. Today, myxomatosis continues to cycle through UK wild rabbit populations, causing significant mortality and welfare harm annually. Nothing can be done at wild population scale. Domestic rabbit welfare is protected by vaccination, which is highly effective and should be routine for all companion rabbits in affected areas.

What You Can Do

Vaccinate pet rabbits against both Myxomatosis and RVHD1 and RVHD2 annually
Report myxomatosis signs in garden wild rabbits to local wildlife rescue if severe and if rabbits are capturable
Avoid handling sick wild rabbits without protective gloves — both diseases can survive in the environment
Support wild rabbit population research to understand disease immunity development
Engage with wildlife management discussions about the ethics of deliberate disease introduction as pest control