The rabbit is a restricted category 3, 4, 5 and 6 invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014. You must not move, keep, feed, give away, sell, or release rabbits into the environment. Penalties may apply.
NSW, ACT, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
Everywhere else in Australia, apart from QLD, does allow domestic rabbit breeds to be kept as pets.
Planning on adopting a rabbit in Melbourne? It'll cost you around $50 to $100. The second option is to purchase a pet rabbit from a professional breeder. The prices may vary depending on the rabbit's breed.
Residents are permitted to own the following pets without a licence: Rabbits. Guinea pigs. Rats and mice (provided they are domestic breeds)
Currently only dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and selected species of birds from approved countries may be imported as pets and only when strict conditions are met. No other vertebrate animals are approved for import into Australia as pets.
The wild rabbit is now considered to be a pest in Australia and in states such as Queensland, keeping a rabbit as a domestic pet is illegal (although rabbits may be kept as pets in New South Wales and Victoria).
#1 Lionhead
You see, the Lionhead is commonly described as one of the most easy-going rabbit breeds you're ever likely to meet. These bunnies are friendly, affectionate, and generally quite happy to be handled. And with their playful nature and small size, Lionheads are very easy to fall in love with.
Himalayan rabbits are one of the best choices, of the breeds available, for children. They are renowned for being laid-back, gentle, friendly and curious. They are beautiful in appearance and love to cuddle, rarely ever known to bite or scratch.
The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), also known as the rabbit-eared bandicoot, is a desert-dwelling creature that once occupied over 80 percent of the continent.
Rabbits generally live for 5 to 8 years depending on their environment and breed, but they can live for as long as 12 years.
Keeping your rabbit inside
Rabbits can live quite happily indoors and they should be provided with secure accommodation where they can feel safe, sleep, use a particular area as a toilet, and be confined to when unsupervised.
The European wild rabbit is an introduced pest throughout the southern two thirds of Australia. They affect natural environments, primary production, and even townships and infrastructure. Wild rabbits are 'ecosystem engineers', fundamentally changing whole ecosystems.
Rabbits are social and curious animals, who can make fantastic pets. But contrary to popular belief, they are not an 'easy' first pet for a child. Rabbits, like all animals, have specific needs when it comes to their housing, handling, food, and providing enough interesting and stimulating activities for them to do.
Just like cats and dogs, bunnies provide great companionship. In addition to being downright adorable, they can be affectionate, playful, and full of personality. People have described their pet rabbits as funny, sweet, adventurous, and even dramatic.
Even if you have a pair of rabbits, 24 hours is the maximum time they should be alone. Like all pets, rabbits rely heavily on their owners. Domesticated rabbits lack the survival skills of wild rabbits. Your rabbit has basic needs surrounding food, exercise, and stimulation.
Despite their reputation as low-maintenance starter pets, rabbits are actually better suited for older children that understand how to be responsible with the care of their pet. They are very social creatures that crave attention from their owners and will require a significant time and care commitment.
Barring the odd rogue rabbit that likes the lonely life, rabbits generally benefit from the company of other rabbits. They will often be far happier and content with a mate. Rabbits are not that unlike humans, they also get bored, even depressed, and when they do, they often act it out with destructive behaviour.
In general, rabbits will be happier in pairs than when they are single. A second rabbit can prevent depression, and even help to minimize boredom and troublemaking behaviors. However, enough social interaction from humans or other pets is also okay if getting a second rabbit is not possible.
There is no way to know exactly what your rabbit's personality is going to be simply because you know their gender. However, typically male rabbits will have more laid back and friendly personalities. If you are looking for a more social or attention seeking rabbit, then a male will probably be better for you.
English Lop
As one of the first domesticated rabbit breeds, English Lops are popular for their laidback and friendly temperament. In fact, these bunnies are so laidback that they're considered lazy by expert rabbit owners. With enough gentle encouragement, you can convince these rabbits to display their playful side.
Calmest Pet Rabbit Breed: The Rex Rabbit
First on our list is the plush, velvety Rex rabbit. This bunny is quite docile and laid back and a favorite among young children. They're cool with relaxing on the couch and accepting pets from their parents and human siblings. Their fur is shorter and denser than other breeds.
Feral rabbits can be found in many different habitats across Australia, ranging from deserts to coastal plains — wherever there is suitable soil for digging warrens. They are scarce in areas with clay soils and abundant where soils are deep and sandy, such as in the north-east of South Australia.
Did you know you can house train rabbits? These clever house pets will happily use a litter tray, so long as it is well set up and they have been shown how to use it. You can start litter training your rabbits as early as you like but you can litter train a rabbit at any age.
All the rabbits need is soil that is fit to burrow and short grasses to graze on. Since these conditions are fairly easy to come by, they can adapt to new habitats such as the deserts and plains of Australia as easily as the meadows of Europe.