The wild rabbit has declined dramatically in the UK since the 1950s due to myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease, affecting ecosystem dynamics and predator populations that depend on them.
Individual wild rabbits experience significant suffering from myxomatosis - the disease causes swelling, blindness, and slow death over 10-14 days. RHDV2 causes rapid internal haemorrhaging. While wildlife managers sometimes use culling to control agricultural damage, the broader picture is one of chronic disease burden across the species. Welfare-conscious land management considers both individual animal suffering and population-level conservation needs.