Year of the Bunny Boom

Demand is jumping ahead of the Year of the Rabbit, but breeders say raising rabbits as pets or for business is s long-term commitment.

Nattawut Trachoo, a manager at a multinational company, acquired a few rabbits as companions 5 years ago at a time when raising the animals was not very popular among Thai pet lovers.

"My friend's shop at Chatuchak is now selling sixty rabbits a week compared to thirty last year," says breeder Nattawut Trachoo.

But things have changed over the last year or two, with a growing number of Thais turning to rabbits because they don't require as much space as dogs or cats, and don't make noises that disturb the neighbours.

With the Year of the Rabbit about to start, bunnies are in high demand with people either buying them for themselves or as gifts for children or friends.

"The market has doubled in size, I would say," says Mr Nattawut, who has turned his house into a small farm with twenty rabbits. "My friend's shop at Chatuchak weekend market is now selling sixty rabbits a week compared to thirty last year."

The Chinese horoscope says the rabbit will bring prosperity and success in love, says Mr Nattawut, adding that white and orange rabbits are the most popular among enthusiasts these days.

Two types of rabbits are widely raised and bred in Thailand. Holland Lops are outstanding with their long ears, broad shoulders and deep chests, while the smaller Netherlands Dwarf or ND has a shortened and round-shaped face.

Locally bred breeders cost 8,000 Baht while imports are priced up to thirty thousand Baht, said Mr Pipit, who has spent more than one million baht on a rabbit farm with eighty animals that consume twelve thousand Baht worth of food each month.

"Normally, breeders have twenty rabbits on average and the cost should be divided by three from what I have spent and am paying now," Mr Pipit said as he estimated costs for beginners.

"It is important that for newcomers that you study carefully the market opportunities because there are a number of breeders now."

The Thailand Rabbit Breeders' Club says breeding rabbits can generate twenty thousand Baht per month on average.

There are tens of thousands of rabbit owners countrywide, said Pipit Boonyaporn, who founded the club 3 years ago and is now its president.

Prices of rabbits generally range from 2 to 4,000 baht but those considered competition-worthy can cost up to 20,000 Baht.

Costs of rabbit food and accessories have also been rising, according to Bunny Delight Rabbitry, which was established three years ago on a farm in Kanchanaburi. Now it has 80 rabbits and also sells supplies.

Accessories include baskets, bottles and toilets. Bags to carry rabbits are priced between 280 and 1,800 baht, said Piyalak Sariya, a rabbit breeder and co-owner of Bunny Delight.

"Since beginning of this year, I've sold seven bags compared to three per month in 2010," she says, adding that orders for rabbits had also increased substantially since the new year.

Despite his own belief that raising rabbits will bring good luck, Mr Nattawut cautioned that those who want to buy the animals have to learn how to care for them properly.

"They get diarrhoea easily and could easily die because of the symptoms. So make sure the food you give them is clean and appropriate," he said.

Rabbits are also good pets for parents to give their children, but one must stress to a youngster that a rabbit is not a toy that can be discarded after a few weeks if the child gets bored.

"Raising the animal will help teach children to have responsibility. Taking care of an animal is a better way for them to spend time than playing computer games," he said.

With demand for rabbits increasing, breeders have expressed concern over the number of rabbits dumped after their owners decided they were no longer cute.

"I take some of them for treatment at hospitals and do some jabs myself when visiting them at the zoo in Nakhon Prathom," said Thitima Duangta, who has 20 rabbits of her own.

"They are some rabbits being dumped every day," she said. "I am against those who raise rabbits for fashion and later dump them because they don't have the ability to take care of them for their entire lives to the end."

Source - The Bangkok Post