03/09/2026
CUDDLING A BUNNY – CUTE OR CRUEL?
“Live animal experiences, cuddling sessions, educational visits, animal shows” … No matter how they are masqueraded, they are all mobile zoos.
BAT has previously highlighted the serious ethical concerns associated with mobile zoos, but with the seemingly sudden explosion in live experiences involving rabbits, it’s really important that people are informed of the true nature of this particular type of mobile zoo.
Live rabbit experiences, or “bunny cuddling”, seem to be taking place at every market, birthday party and any other event where animals are used as props for entertainment.
Spending a few minutes holding a cute bunny seems sweet and harmless, but ONLY because we view this activity through a human-centric lens.
Live rabbit experiences viewed from the perspective of the rabbit is anything but a pleasant experience.
Rabbits are highly sensitive prey animals, who have not evolved as companion animals such as dogs and cats. They are still driven by their prey instincts, still constantly scanning for threats despite being tamed and bred by humans.
They are timid animals and do not enjoy being constantly handled. When they are picked up by strangers, surrounded, passed around and being restrained in a human’s arms or on their laps without the freedom to escape or hide, they will often behave in a way that seems relaxed or content.
Rabbits will remain completely still, lie flat or tuck themselves into a corner. This is not content behaviour, but a stress and survival response. They are terrified of the posed threat, which they perceive as a predatory attack, and are waiting for the danger to pass: a survival mechanism which experts refer to as a “silent scream”.
Constant or repeated exposure to stressful situations also affects them physiologically. Their natural instincts telling them that they are under attack elicits a large rush of adrenaline and pushes their heart rates up.
Ongoing stress can weaken a rabbit’s immune system, leaving them more susceptible to illness and can lead to behavioural issues such as withdrawl, aggression or over-grooming. A severely frightened rabbit can even suffer a life-threatening condition called gut statis, where their digestive system slows down or stops functioning completely.
The chaotic, noisy, crowded and unfamiliar environments in which these experiences most often take place also increase the risk of injury to the rabbits. Rabbits have powerful hind legs which they may kick violently when panicked, which can easily fracture their fragile spines or break their backs. They are also accidently dropped and even stepped on, resulting in further horrific injuries and even death.
Other questions that must be asked: how are the rabbits transported to these events and what are their lives are like between events?
Mobile zoos warrant the same concerns are stationary zoos, only with the added concerns that come about due to constant traveling, frequent handling and unstable living conditions.
It is impossible for those responsible for the animals’ care to meet their basic requirements when they are part of a mobile zoo. Constant travel inhibits animals from displaying natural behaviours. The small spaces they are confined to during transport and display do not fulfil their needs, which may cause frustration and lead to abnormal, neurotic and even self-destructive behaviours. Constant noise, motion and vibrations, changes in temperature and light, disrupted sleep and stretches of time without access to water or food lead to chronic stress and poor health. This stress is a part of every single day for rabbits used in petting zoos or live animal experiences.
What happens when rabbits outgrow their small, cute appearance or baby-like qualities, or when a rabbit becomes defensive or displays aggression to communicate that they don’t want to be handled? Live animal experiences are businesses which profit off the cute factor of these animals, and animals who do not fit the mould are often discarded, euthanised or sold at auctions.
On the flip side, where does the steady stream of adorable baby bunnies come from? Is there a mother rabbit confined to a filthy cage somewhere, producing litter after litter for human children to hold?
Those who claim to love animals cannot, in good conscience, choose to subject rabbits to such terrifying, stressful ordeals for their own enjoyment.
Rabbits are sentient beings with their own needs, instincts and behaviours that humans should respect, rather than ignore or neglect for the sake of our selfish whims.
What can you do instead?
🐰 Choose not to participate in live animal experiences;
🐰 Speak up when you see animals being exploited in these situations;
🐰 Inform others on why cuddling a rabbit may seem harmless but is quite the opposite.
“Because true love for animals isn’t about how they make us feel — it’s about how we make them feel.”
Image credit: The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund
