The Social Nature of European Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract

Increasing concerns regarding the wellbeing of laboratory animals have caused biomedical research stakeholders to reconsider traditional housing of laboratory species and to provide social companionship for social species. European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are commonly individually housed in research facilities despite the occurrence of social groups in the wild. Here we review the current literature to provide a comprehensive description of the social behaviors and preferences of rabbits in the wild and in captivity. The implications of these studies regarding social housing of laboratory rabbits are discussed.

Figure 1.

(A) Caged and (B) penned rabbits engage in rearing behavior in response to a sound outside the housing room, but the caged rabbit is unable to become completely erect due to cage-height restrictions, even though the cage is compliant with all current regulations.

Figure 2.

Two adult male rabbits group housed in a pen rest in contact with one another, while a third animal explores the pen.

Figure 3.

Two adult male rabbits engage in allogrooming.

Figure 4.

A pair of caged adult male rabbits share a food hopper. This pair was initially group housed with 4 other rabbits as adults and then transferred to cages as a pair.

Figure 5.

Two adult male rabbits use visual barriers to avoid aggression immediately after introduction. The dominant rabbit chased the subordinate animal around the pen until they rested on either side of the barrier, out of visual contact.

Figure 6.

Pen used for group housing, modified from a run used for large animals. Multiple food and water sources are present, as are enrichment items including wood shavings, visual barriers, and manipulable items.