Wild rabbit populations in the UK and Europe face ongoing threats from Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease variants, with major welfare and ecological consequences.
RHD causes an acute and highly distressing death through liver failure and internal hemorrhage, often within 48 hours of infection. Mass die-offs represent significant animal suffering at population scale. Beyond individual welfare, the ecological cascade from rabbit decline affects dozens of dependent species. Conservation efforts focus on habitat management and predator support, but the welfare impact of RHD waves is difficult to mitigate directly for wild animals. Monitoring and early warning systems help ecologists respond to outbreaks.