The organisation says it is cruel to the animals
The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) is making a plea to parents and families: please say no to rabbit petting.
While many farm parks promote ‘pat-a-pet’ sessions (where children are invited to handle rabbits, often on tables or passed around in crates) as a fun, hands-on experience, research shows that being handled by visitors can cause fear, stress, and long-term harm to prey animals like rabbits.
At some farm park rabbits get passed around in boxes for multiple hands to poke and stroke them. Others are placed on ‘petting’ tables. While a dog might growl or try to run away, rabbits are prey animals so they will usually freeze in fear.
Ahead of the half-term holidays, the RWAF contacted hundreds of UK farm parks (573) asking them to reconsider this long-standing activity, which sees rabbits repeatedly handled by visitors throughout the day. Despite growing awareness of animal welfare, Bucklebury Farm in Berkshire was the only venue to respond positively and make changes.
To most parents and children, a rabbit sitting quietly might appear calm, but in reality, stillness is often a sign of fear. A study on stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) in adult rabbits showed that handling causes measurable increases in body temperature – an indicator of acute stress. This immobility or ‘freezing’ response is linked to fear and accompanied by elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, and increased stress hormones. Over time, daily handling can weaken rabbits’ immune systems, disrupt digestion, and delay recovery from illness. In other words, regular petting isn’t just frightening for rabbits – it’s damaging to their long-term health.
A recent RWAF survey revealed strong public support for change, with 53% of visitors rating rabbit welfare at farm parks as poor or very poor, 78% believing daily handling is harmful, and an overwhelming 95% saying they would not take part in petting sessions if they thought the animals were scared.
Oliver Shute, Managing Director of Bucklebury Farm, says: “The changes we’ve made at Bucklebury Farm are all about giving our rabbits the life they truly deserve. They have space to run, dig and hide, which helps them feel safe and content. For us, it’s not just about visitors seeing animals, it’s about showing what proper welfare looks like. Rabbits are often misunderstood and kept in spaces that don’t meet their needs, so we’re proud to set an example that puts their wellbeing first.”
Rae Walters, CEO, RWAF says: “Most of the farm parks I have spoken to deny that letting rabbits out to be handled, stroked and picked up can be frightening for the animals involved, but we know that to be the case. Sadly, it’s an activity that’s long been embedded into farm park culture - and draws a crowd. Who can blame kids (and adults) for wanting to stroke rabbits? They are beautiful animals, after all. But the ugly truth is that this practice is terrifying for the rabbits and if more farm park visitors understood the negative effect on their health, happiness and wellbeing, we believe they would be happy to engage in alternative activities. Our own research suggests that most animal-loving farm park visitors would welcome the change if they were aware of the welfare facts.
“Prepping rabbit treats and enrichment games and learning through interactive quizzes can also be a lot of fun - and none of these activities involve handling a terrified rabbit that can’t escape. Most importantly, they help to educate young farm park visitors from an early age about respecting these animals. We are appealing to farm parks across the UK, hoping that the message will cut through the commercial benefit of hands-on rabbit experiences. Every farm park that signs up to our ’Pat a Pet Pledge’ becomes a Rabbit Welfare Champion and the more farm parks that take this pledge for rabbit-first welfare, the more likely it is that proper care and respect for rabbits can become mainstream."
Media Vet and RWAF patron, Emma Milne, says: “The stress caused by these interactions can’t be overstated, and it can have devastating effects on welfare and long-term health for these animals. I would not only urge farm parks to heed the advice of RWAF and educate people about the complex needs of rabbits, but I would also urge parents to boycott parks that continue to allow these activities.”