Rabbits are the third most used species in biomedical research and face significant welfare challenges from barren housing, social isolation, and handling-induced fear responses.
Laboratory rabbit welfare has historically lagged behind other species in refinement efforts. Single housing in barren cages prevents social behavior, exploration, and the high-speed running that rabbits perform in the wild. The result is chronic stress manifested in stereotypic behaviors and suppressed immune function. Rabbits are especially vulnerable to fear during handling — improper restraint causes struggling that can fracture their own spine. Refinements including pair or group housing, environmental enrichment with hiding structures and raised platforms, and low-stress handling techniques using tunnels rather than scruffing dramatically improve welfare. Many institutions have implemented these refinements with no adverse effects on experimental outcomes.