Danger to life for baby bunnies: rescuers on the football field in Salzburg!

Danger to life for baby bunnies: rescuers on the football field in Salzburg!

On April 16, 2025, three orphaned baby bunnies were discovered on a soccer field in Salzburg. The location where they were found, the Red Bull Academy, turned out to be extremely dangerous for the little animals as their mother was frightened by the football activity. Without the intervention of animal rights activists, the hungry baby rabbits would have been in mortal danger. Thanks to the quick response of the animal rescue employees, the animals were rescued and taken to the Pfotenhilfe animal shelter in Lochen am See, Upper Austria. Pfotenhilfe has extensive experience in wildlife care and confirmed the need for rescue.

The head of Pfotenhilfe, Johanna Stadler, emphasized the legal and moral obligation to help animals in need. “Help is necessary when baby rabbits are abducted by dogs or cats or are sitting in dangerous places,” says Stadler. She also pointed out the dangers associated with “live Easter presents,” as many children quickly lose interest in live animals that are not cuddly toys.

Intensive care and rearing

The baby rabbits are cared for intensively. According to information from Four paws The animals are initially fed four to five times a day, before feeding is reduced to two to three times a day and then to once a day. They should be released into the wild as soon as they no longer need milk. It is important to note that not all baby bunnies need to be rescued, especially if the mother is nearby.

Dr. Frey from the animal protection organization reminded that rescuing a young animal is only justified under certain circumstances: if it is visibly injured, the mother has demonstrably died or a pet such as a cat or dog brings the young animal without the location of the discovery being ascertainable.

Animal protection and sense of responsibility

The discussion about animal protection goes beyond saving individual animals. Animal welfare concerns all people, regardless of whether they own pets or not, emphasizes the article by Animal joy. Decisions and actions of each individual influence the well-being of animals. Species-appropriate treatment requires responsibility for their exercise, medical care and diet.

As a society, it is important to promote awareness of animal welfare laws and the associated rights and needs of animals. Organizations educate and intervene to prevent abuse or neglect. Supporting such organizations, either financially or through volunteer work, helps create an empathetic society.