An undercover investigation by animal welfare organisation Animal Rights shows rabbits being handled roughly during transport from farms to slaughterhouses in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Between November 2025 and February 2026, investigators filmed rabbits being loaded for slaughter on 26 occasions at 18 rabbit farms. Sixteen of the farms were in the Netherlands and two were in Belgium.
According to Animal Rights, the rabbits were transported to the Belgian slaughterhouses Lonki in Temse and Van Assche in Deinze.
The organisation says the footage covers a large part of the rabbit farming sector.
According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), around 30 rabbit farms with approximately 260,100 rabbits remained in the Netherlands in 2025. Animal Rights says it filmed loading operations at more than half of these farms.
The investigation was carried out using drones and cameras with telephoto lenses. Investigators followed transport trucks from the slaughterhouses to rabbit farms and back again.
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Rabbits lifted by their ears
According to Animal Rights, the footage shows rabbits being lifted by one or both ears, by their fur or by their legs without any support.
The organisation says rabbits were also placed into overcrowded transport carts, thrown into transport crates and dropped on top of other rabbits already inside.
In one case, investigators claim a trolley full of rabbits overturned. In another, a stack of transport crates containing rabbits reportedly fell over.
Animal Rights also alleges that some sick or injured rabbits were killed by being struck against the ground before transport.
Handling may violate European rules
European rules on the transport of animals state that animals must not be lifted or pulled by their ears, legs or fur if this causes unnecessary pain or suffering.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also recommends that rabbits should always be fully supported when they are lifted outside their cages.
Dutch animal welfare law also prohibits causing unnecessary pain, injury or suffering to animals.
Animal Rights argues that the handling shown in the investigation violates both European transport rules and Dutch animal welfare legislation.
Rabbits are prey animals and are naturally sensitive to handling. Animal welfare experts say being caught, restrained and transported can cause fear and stress. Loud noises, bright lights, unfamiliar smells and overcrowded transport conditions may further reduce their welfare.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
