Enhancing Rabbit Welfare: The Role of Environmental Enrichment in New Zealand White breed

In adherence to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, this study investigated the effects of environmental enrichment on New Zealand White rabbits. Thirty male rabbits were divided into three age-specific phases: pre-enrichment (control) at 10 weeks, toy enrichment using tennis balls at 11 weeks, and post-enrichment at 12 weeks. Enrichment interactions, lasting three hours daily for three days each week, were videotaped in the rabbits' home cages to monitor their engagement with the enrichment objects and overall activity levels.The results showed a significant increase in exploratory behaviors and a decrease in passive behaviors, such as lying, during the enrichment phase. Although ingestive behavior did not show marked improvement during the toy-enrichment phase, a positive trend in activity levels was observed in post-enrichment rabbits. These rabbits demonstrated increased dynamic activities, including frisky hopping, rearing, and exploratory behaviors, with a notable reduction in the frequency of lying compared to the pre-enrichment phase.This study underscores the beneficial impact of environmental enrichment on the behavioral parameters of caged rabbits, highlighting its significance in enhancing rabbit welfare.Keywords: Environmental Enrichment, New Zealand White Rabbits, Behavior.