Wildlife Disease

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease and Wild Rabbit Populations

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease has decimated wild rabbit populations across Europe and Australia, causing mass die-offs with significant welfare impacts.

Key Facts

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) kills infected rabbits within 24 to 72 hours with high fever and internal hemorrhage
A new strain, RHDV2, emerged in Europe in 2010 and spread to North America and Australia by 2020
Wild rabbit declines cascade through ecosystems affecting predators including lynx, eagles, and foxes
In Australia, RHDV is deliberately released as a biocontrol for invasive rabbits
The disease causes acute hemorrhagic fever, which is a rapid but distressing death

Welfare Considerations

The welfare impact of RHDV depends on perspective: in Australia it is deliberately used as biocontrol, causing death in millions of invasive rabbits. In Europe it threatens native rabbit populations and the predators that depend on them. In both contexts, the disease causes acute suffering. Balancing ecological and welfare considerations requires different responses in different geographic contexts.

What You Can Do

Support vaccination programs for domestic and wild rabbits in RHDV-affected regions
Advocate for biosecurity measures to prevent further spread of RHDV2 to unaffected regions
Engage with land management discussions about biocontrol welfare trade-offs in invasive species management