• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

Rabbits on BBC 1 magic program

the children were treating them better than anyone! That man was shouting in their ears. :( The rabbits were gorgeous but most looked frightened and there were loads! What happens to them now? :cry: I doubt they will all find loving homes. :roll:
 
Last edited:
I'm waiting for it turn up on iPlayer so I can watch it and give a detailed complaint about their treatment.
 
I've taken a rabbit on britains got talent before, although this rabbit was very used to noise and light, and I told the people there I wouldn't go on unless they dimmed the lights and turned off the buzzer sounds. We even got a seperate (quiet) bit to wait in and practise

These rabbits on the show are so young surely they can't of been properly introduced to these stresses, they barely look old enough to be away from their mum :? Wonder what will happen to them too now the shows over, they wont stay little fluffy bunnies for long and there's loads of them :shock: They were very tolerable though with the way they were being held, people at home will get a nasty shock (Eg. Scratched to death) if they think all buns will just sit there happy to be thrown about
 
I have sent my complaint, just can't believe all those lives for a 5 minute 'trick' that probably will not be remembered tomorrow
 
No I'm not watching it I' think it might finished off my week regarding rabbit welfare - it sounds appaulling, it's like going back in time, what next allow endangered species to be used in circuses again in the name of entertainment, if someone wants to post an email on here as a complaint I'm happy to send one having not seen it - I can't abide this sort of thing and on prime time TV on a Saturday night aswell - the stupidity is only outweighed by ignorance and our TV licence has helped pay for that!:roll:
 
This is what I wrote in my complaint to the BBC:
Given the number of abandoned rabbits (over 33,000 in rescues), promoting bunnies as children's pets was inappropriate. Furthermore, rabbits do not like to be exposed to noise and overcrowding. Additionally, the hutch shown was inadequate for the housing of even a single rabbit, as the minimum hutch standards, as recommended by the RSPCA, is 6x2x2 feet. I am also concerned about the number of rabbits used. Have there been checks on their living conditions? What is going to happen to them when the programme is over and when they reach maturity?
 
antigone said:
This is what I wrote in my complaint to the BBC:
Given the number of abandoned rabbits (over 33,000 in rescues), promoting bunnies as children's pets was inappropriate. Furthermore, rabbits do not like to be exposed to noise and overcrowding. Additionally, the hutch shown was inadequate for the housing of even a single rabbit, as the minimum hutch standards, as recommended by the RSPCA, is 6x2x2 feet. I am also concerned about the number of rabbits used. Have there been checks on their living conditions? What is going to happen to them when the programme is over and when they reach maturity?
Click to expand...

OK cool thanks x
 
I have tweeted and emailed - twitter is @bbcmagicians

weblink to email your complaint is here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/


and this is what i put:

I was absolutely shocked to see the use of live rabbits on your show tonight. Given the number of abandoned rabbits (over 33,000 in rescues), promoting bunnies as children's pets was inappropriate. Furthermore, rabbits do not like to be exposed to noise and overcrowding. Additionally, the hutch shown was inadequate for the housing of even a single rabbit, as the minimum hutch standards, as recommended by the RSPCA, is 6x2x2 feet. I am also concerned about the number of rabbits used. Have there been checks on their living conditions? What is going to happen to them when the programme is over and when they reach maturity?

There has recently been reports in the press of a case where 70 rabits had to be rescued and the BBC news team has ignored all my attempts to contact you about it - instead you actively promoted the use of rabbits for entertainment purposes.

Perhaps you would like to donate to the cause by way of an apology?

http://www.pactsanctuary.org/donations/donation-to-feed-horsford-rabbits.html

I look forward to hearing from you
 
Last edited:
Leigh said:
The twitter tag is @bbcmagicians :D
Click to expand...

:lol: Don't think mine would fit on Twitter - I've been meaning to get back on there but, one of those days :roll: Will try a bit later though ;)

As a licence payer in the UK I was very disappointed to see that you have allowed Magicians to use live rabbits (quite young) as props in a 'trick' on this show, this is a return to the using of live animals and rabbits are not suitable for this purpose given the requirements they have to ensure health and wellbeing.

Whilst they are young as the ones on the show were they are extremely sensitive to noise, handling and need to feel secure and safe with constant access to hay and ideally food and water. They should not be transported around, housed in plastic boxes and treated like props on a magic show, this is sending out the exact message that a lot of rabbit welfare organisations are trying to eliminate. They are not suitable animals for this - they are a prey species and highly prone to stress which in turn can prove fatal through not eating the gut can slow down and if not treated the rabbit can die.

When looked after correctly a rabbit can live 8-9 years and there is a lot of work being put into raising the profile of the species given it is the UK's 3rd most popular pet, it is afforded an inadequate amount of protection from abuse. Rabbits do not like to be exposed to noise and overcrowding. Additionally, the hutch shown was inadequate for the housing of even a single rabbit, as the minimum hutch standards, as recommended by the RSPCA, is 6x2x2 feet. I am also concerned about the number of rabbits used. Have there been checks on their living conditions? What is going to happen to them when the programme is over and when they reach maturity?

The use of live animals should be discouraged for all forms of entertainment when there is a risk to the animals health, the show could have still happened using a toy rabbit.

Please consider the wider implications of allowing such things to be broadcast on prime time Saturday night TV -

There are currently (over 33,000 rabbits in rescues), promoting rabbits as children's pets was inappropriate as they are not suitable for children under 7-8 years of age and this is largely a factor in so many being bought and dumped when the animal becomes large enough to scratch and kick etc - handling should be very careful with adult supervision only.

What were you thinking ? That this is 1950 or something - things are changing and slowly improving towards a greater understanding around the ethics of animal welfare and the BBC go and take a major step backwards!! Well done - it's frankly disgusting and you ought to be ashamed of yourselves - what really galls me is that my TV Licence has helped pay for that farce!
 
Its on iplayer now, i have just watched that. Its about 40 mins into the programme.

Them poor rabbits. they all look terrifiied, poor poor things. The black one at the end looks so scared :(:(:(:(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Baby rabbits
Replies
11
Views
325
InspectorMorse
InspectorMorse
H
What herbs/veg good for rabbits/easy to grow?!
Replies
11
Views
263
Halcyon
H
E
Are my baby rabbits healthy weights?
Replies
1
Views
208
InspectorMorse
InspectorMorse
Back
Top