Domestic rabbits require specific environmental, social, digestive, and behavioral conditions that are often not adequately met in domestic, commercial, or clinical settings. This protocol promotes rabbit care models based on freedom of movement, fear reduction, environmental enrichment, and respect for the natural behavior of the species.
Key recommendations include avoiding permanent housing in small cages, providing safe hiding areas, and ensuring daily access to exercise, exploration, and appropriate chewing opportunities. Forced handling should be reduced, and adaptation times should be respected, especially in sensitive, fearful, or insecure rabbits.
The protocol also emphasizes the importance of environmental enrichment, adequate substrate, quiet resting areas, appropriate nutrition, and reduced stress exposure to help prevent digestive disorders, apathy, fear-related behavior, and chronic anxiety. The objective is to support rabbit welfare through environments that respect their prey-species sensitivity and behavioral complexity.