Rabbits are commonly used in safety testing and research - their welfare needs including social housing and behavioural expression are increasingly addressed in regulations.
Laboratory rabbit welfare has historically been neglected relative to rodents, despite rabbits being complex social animals with significant welfare needs. Standard individual laboratory cages prevent expression of natural behaviours including binkying, social interaction, and exploration. Regulatory requirements for social housing are improving standards in EAZA-member countries. The development of validated pain assessment tools like the Rabbit Grimace Scale enables better post-procedural welfare management. Investment in refinement research for laboratory rabbits is a high-impact welfare science priority given the numbers used and the significant gap between current practice and welfare needs.