Bibo is a devoted, veteran "rabbit slave"—a pioneer in teaching proper care for rabbits long before the internet era took off. When people ask me, "Why did you start raising rabbits?" or "Why do you love them so much?" my answer has always been the same: "I don't know. For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by rabbits."
Ever since I was a child, I was surrounded by stuffed animals. My parents secretly threw away piles of them—enough to fill multiple black garbage bags—but over 70% of those plushies were rabbits. I've kept some of them to this day; a few are already over 30 years old.
I began keeping real rabbits in my early twenties. In April 2001, I bought my first rabbit, a black-and-white spotted dwarf named "Little Dot", from a pet store in Shilin. Back then, knowledge about rabbit care in Taiwan was almost nonexistent. There was no Facebook, no dedicated communities—just a few forums and imported guidebooks. Like many others, I didn't know what "doing your homework" meant when it came to pet care.
In the beginning, I made several mistakes. But through meeting fellow rabbit owners and consulting Dr. Zeng Zhijun (now the director of Zhishan Animal Hospital), I learned a great deal about proper care, completely transforming how I understood and treated my rabbits.
Later came my other beloved companions—Tiny and Qni. I usually kept only one rabbit at a time, except for a brief three-month overlap between Tiny and Qni. Each bunny accompanied me through different seasons of life and marked various phases of my rabbit care journey.
The Birth of "Bibo's Bunny Den"
Before Facebook existed, the sharing of rabbit-care knowledge in Taiwan relied on a handful of passionate rabbit lovers who built websites or answered questions on forums. I created my own site called "Bibo's Bunny Den." As the site gained popularity, I started organizing rabbit gatherings—some with over fifty people, others intimate with fewer than ten.
Each gathering or workshop became an opportunity for me to educate others about rabbit care. During this time, I also met "Sugar Dad" and "Sugar Mom," and in the early days of the Rabbit Lovers Association, I taught in their beginner's classes. Eventually, after becoming a mother myself, I had to pause teaching and maintaining my blog due to family responsibilities.
More than ten years have passed since I launched "Bibo's Bunny Den." Today, with the rise of Facebook groups, my site has become semi-retired—a database rather than an active community. It's bittersweet: while the sense of closeness within the rabbit community has faded with its growth, I'm still proud of how widespread and accurate rabbit-care knowledge has become. That's a blessing for all rabbits.
Evolution of Rabbit Care in Taiwan
In the early 2000s, finding quality feed or hay in pet stores was difficult. Now, many pet shops carry premium brands, a sign that public understanding of proper care has improved—demand drives supply. Online rabbit communities are now vast, and knowledge is shared instantly. With just a bit of reading ("digging through posts"), new owners can quickly learn how to build safe, healthy environments for their pets.
However, I also worry about misinformation spreading unchecked. Sometimes I can't resist stepping in to correct inaccuracies, though it feels like a small effort against a flood of online content. I urge rabbit owners to verify information with qualified veterinarians and to learn humbly from experienced caretakers so accurate knowledge continues to spread.
Adoption, Veterinary Access, and Education
Today, adoption channels are more accessible than ever. There are dedicated adoption websites, rabbit rescue organizations, and even local government offices that facilitate adoptions. Taiwanese society now embraces the principle: "Adopt, don't buy."
Veterinary care has also advanced significantly. In the past, rabbit experts were concentrated only in major cities. I remember when owners had to take several-hour train rides—before the high-speed rail even existed—to see a doctor. Now, except in the east and remote islands, most rabbit owners live within about an hour's reach of a proper rabbit clinic. We should all cherish that progress and continue improving Taiwan's rabbit community.
From Knowledge to Life Education
After becoming a mother, I realized that raising animals isn't just about knowledge or environment—it's about instilling respect for life from an early age. Apart from the Rabbit Lovers Association's "Big Bunny Sister" program, which brings rabbit education into schools, I believe Taiwan's curriculum should more actively teach children to value life and understand that money should never define it.
When people truly respect life, they don't see pet care as a burden. For example, when I meet grandparents taking grandchildren out for walks, I often take the chance to gently teach them about rabbit welfare—it all starts with small conversations.
Schools, too, should avoid assignments that require students to raise living animals. These projects often lead to neglect or abandonment once the homework is done. Some rabbits end up on rescue sites or, worse, abandoned outdoors—draining social resources and sending children the wrong message: that it's okay to shirk responsibility.
Looking Ahead
I sincerely call on Taiwan's education system to stop assigning such tasks and instead strengthen life education across the curriculum. A truly compassionate society begins from the heart, and from childhood.
"My dream for the rabbit community is a fast, abundant, yet accurate knowledge environment—where owners support rather than compete, where compassion and patience define our culture, and where every child grows up respecting life and loving every living being."
— Bibo, The Big Bunny Sister
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