A Special Case of Taiwanese Hares
This is a particularly special case involving wild hares. In 2023, the Association's Taiwanese Hare Project took in a very unusual pair of hares, recorded as Case No. 18 and No. 19. What makes them special? These two hares had already been neutered.
A resident from the Chiayi area contacted the Association, explaining that they had been keeping two Taiwanese hares for several years and that both had already been sterilized. After later learning about the Association's Taiwanese Hare Project and strongly resonating with its mission, the individual decided to inform the Association and entrusted the hares to their care, asking the Association to make the most appropriate arrangements for them.
Wild Hare Identification Completed
The association has recently completed the identification of a reported wild hare. In most cases, reports that reach the association turn out, after examination, to be domestic rabbits with "wild hare coloring" rather than genuine Formosan hares.
In this particular case, the initial report stated that the animal had been kept for many years and was already neutered. Because of this, volunteers were initially doubtful and asked the reporter to provide some photos, videos, and a brief description of how the animal was being cared for. This helped them perform a preliminary identification.
To their surprise, the volunteers later discovered that this was, in fact, a very unusual and authentic wild hare case. They quickly arranged a short interview with the person who reported it and, at an appropriate time, transferred the hare to the association for continued care and rehabilitation.
Case Interview Summary
(Volunteer / Bonnie Liwen)
Ms. D, the main caretaker in this case, began as an ordinary pet rabbit owner. One day, her friend unexpectedly found two baby rabbits that seemed to have been abandoned and instinctively reached out to her for help.
Without realizing what was ahead, Ms. D soon began caring for the rabbits—unaware that this would lead her into an unusual experience of raising Formosan hares.
Below are key excerpts from the case interview.
Rescuing and Raising Taiwanese Wild Hares
Discovery and Care
Both times, the wild hares were found by friends in the fields and later handed over to "Dad D," who took them home to raise. The first rescue involved two baby hares. Sadly, one of them (named "Jiu-Jiu") passed away very quickly, while the other — a male called Bonbon — survived. Bonbon was quite friendly at first, often approaching people on his own and even lying on their laps.
The Second Rescue
On the second occasion, one baby hare was found — Liang-Liang (one of the hares later sent to the association). Liang-Liang is now about five years old and has given birth four times.
Liang-Liang's Litters
- First litter: Born with the original male, Bonbon. Two babies were born, but unfortunately, neither survived.
- Second litter: One baby named Meng-Meng (now three years old, also sent to the association). Meng-Meng was born with eye problems that the local veterinarian couldn't treat.
- Third litter: One baby named Pi-Pi, who passed away around three to four months old.
- Fourth litter: One baby named Qiu-Qiu, who also passed away at about three to four months old.
Observations
The caretaker wasn't sure about the exact gestation period or timing between litters, since the mother's pregnancy wasn't noticeable and the rabbits were kept separately. They were only allowed to play together occasionally, making it hard to determine the exact mating and birth intervals.
Caring for Wild Hares in Taiwan: A Keeper's Experience
Memorable Moments During Care
When asked about the most memorable part of raising wild hares in Taiwan, Ms. D shared her detailed experience. The baby hares were hand-fed with milk replacer mixed with vitamin powder, a method recommended by a pet shop staff member. Each young hare was housed separately in its own cage. They were easily frightened and preferred not to be touched, often resisting human contact.
Observations on Behavior and Personality
Male hares showed clear signs of sexual maturity — mounting behavior was common, and they sometimes even attempted to mount a person's leg or the household's pet rabbit. From Ms. D's personal observations, she summarized several key differences between wild hares and pet rabbits:
- Wild hares are very wary of strangers and may crash into things when startled. ✔
- They can produce distinctive sounds, described as "dya, dya, dya." ✔ (Note 1)
- Baby hares can hear and make sounds immediately after birth. ✔
- While very cute when young, they grow up to be distant and not affectionate, which can be emotionally discouraging for handlers. ✔
- When visitors come, the cage must be covered with a large towel to keep the hares calm — out of sight, out of stress.
- To handle them safely, it helps to cover their eyes or wrap their bodies in a cloth before picking them up.
- Trimming their nails is extremely difficult, as they struggle and breathe heavily. Routine trimming becomes nearly impossible, so Ms. D arranged for the vet to do it during neutering.
- Compared with domestic rabbits, wild hares are much more fearful, vigilant, and easily stressed. ✔
- They sometimes scratch the floor for no apparent reason.
- Baby hares are born with their eyes open. ✔
- Wild hares do not seem aggressive toward each other — no fights were ever observed. ✔
- However, visits to the vet can be traumatic and increase their fear of humans.
- When angry, hares do not thump their hind legs like rabbits. Instead, they use their front paws to slap or swipe. ✔ (Note 2)
The points marked with a ✔ symbol above matched the experiences documented by the wildlife care association that reviewed Ms. D's case.
Notes
Note 1: The unique tongue-flicking sound is a key characteristic used by the association to identify wild hares.
Note 2: The described paw-slapping behavior aligns closely with the association's caregiving observations.
Sterilization Arrangement and Experience
Question: How was the sterilization arranged, and what were your thoughts at the time?
Answer: The sterilization was arranged when they were around three to four years old. The main reason was that it was impossible to prevent the wild hares in Taiwan from getting pregnant. At the time, I didn't think too much about it.
Later, I discovered that after sterilization, it was nearly impossible to feed them medication because the hares were too agitated and restless. Fortunately, wild animals have an excellent ability to heal themselves. So, by simply providing them with extra food and water, they managed to recover on their own.
Living Conditions and Diet of Taiwanese Hares
Question
What are the current living conditions and diet of the Taiwanese hares?
Answer
Normally, the hares are allowed to roam freely around the house. However, due to a recent problem with ticks, they are currently under treatment and have not been allowed to go outside. Inside the room, they run around freely, sprint on the yoga mat, and rest in the corners during the day. They sometimes gnaw on furniture or walls.
(The following are the owner's personal observations and not scientific or biological conclusions.) During the day, they stay quiet and hidden; at night, they become active—running around, stopping to rest at fixed spots, and occasionally going outside together when permitted. They use wood shavings as their designated litter area for urinating. One hare, nicknamed "Liang Liang," drinks a lot of water and thus urinates more frequently.
Their main diet consists of pellets. They are not very fond of hay, but they eat leafy greens such as Chinese lettuce and other fresh vegetables. No regular health check-ups are arranged, so the condition of their teeth is uncertain.
When traveling, since it's difficult to find caretakers for wild hares, they are temporarily housed in the bathroom with an ample supply of pellets and water. If given too many pellets, the hares tend to have softer stools, so their diet is kept under control to avoid overeating.
Returning the Taiwanese Hare to the Association
Interview Excerpt
Question: What made you want to return the Taiwanese hare to the association? What are your expectations for the Hare Base?
Answer: Because we currently have two pet rabbits at home, and in the future, our main focus in life will shift toward church activities and our grandchildren. After learning about the Wild Hare Project, we felt that returning the hare would allow it to live in a more suitable and spacious environment—especially seeing how the association has designed an environment that mimics the wild.
Reflection
This thoughtful decision reflects a deep sense of responsibility and love for animals. By returning the hare, the family not only ensures its well-being but also supports a broader ecological initiative that aims to recreate natural habitats for wildlife. The association's effort to build semi-natural environments offers a meaningful bridge between human care and the wild world.
The Story of Liangliang and Mengmeng
Question: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Answer: Someone once suggested releasing them into the wild. However, we were worried that Liangliang and Mengmeng lacked the survival skills needed to live independently. We also didn't know how to train them for rewilding, so we decided to continue raising them instead.
The wild rabbits in this area of Taiwan were usually found when farmers were weeding their fields. In recent years, however, there have been no new reports of wild rabbits being discovered. This may be due to farmland development and changes in cultivation methods, which have destroyed their natural habitat.
Today, it's likely that the local population of wild rabbits has either lost its habitat completely or become extinct. Liangliang and Mengmeng now serve as gentle reminders of a species that once hopped freely through Taiwan's countryside.
The Thoughtful Care of Taiwan's Wild Hare Family
From the interviews, it was discovered that aside from two baby hares that unfortunately passed away shortly after birth, the owner had thoughtfully given names to every member of the wild hare family. Throughout the process of raising them, the caretaker devoted significant effort to observing and nurturing the animals with great care.
As a result, many of the descriptions shared during the interviews aligned closely with the experiences and knowledge of animal welfare organizations. These observations not only reflect the owner's dedication but also indirectly highlight some unique aspects of the wild hare's natural behavior and living habits.
After the fourth round of breeding, the owner decided to have the two adult hares spayed and neutered, ensuring a more balanced and responsible approach to their continued care.
Health Examination Report for Two Taiwanese Hares
After the association received the two adult Taiwanese hares, both were immediately given comprehensive health check-ups. The hares are identified as Hare No.18 (nicknamed "Liang-Liang") and Hare No.19 ("Meng-Meng").
Hare No.18 — Liang-Liang
Liang-Liang was found to have poor dental health. The veterinarian trimmed its incisors and part of its molars. There was also evidence of an old injury around the left wrist joint, which might have been a healed fracture. Blood tests showed a slightly low protein level, suggesting the need for improved nutrition.
Hare No.19 — Meng-Meng
Meng-Meng's dental condition was more serious than Liang-Liang's, with signs that root abscesses may develop in the future. The hare also showed conjunctival growth and old eye injuries, mild dehydration, and slightly elevated liver enzyme levels. These symptoms are likely the result of stress or collisions experienced during captivity.
Given the observed conditions, it appears that Meng-Meng's natural self-recovery ability—particularly for dental health—has declined. Wild hares generally have shorter lifespans, and beyond five years of age, their teeth tend to reach the end of their functional stage. Based on preliminary evaluation, Meng-Meng may no longer be suitable for release back into the wild, though further discussion is required.
The conjunctival overgrowth and old eye injuries have been confirmed to impair Meng-Meng's vision.
Report compiled by the Wildlife Association Health Team.
The Body Memory of Taiwanese Hares
When wild hares No. 18 and No. 19 arrived at the association, the volunteers first allowed them a short adaptation period—since they had been kept in captivity by a previous notifier. Afterward, the staff gradually transitioned them from cage confinement to open, free ranging. The living space was then slowly transformed to mimic their native environment as closely as possible.
Observations of these two hares revealed a fascinating phenomenon: even after being kept in captivity for an extended period, their natural instincts remained strong. They retained many of their wild characteristics—for example, they stayed almost motionless during daylight hours, blending into their surroundings, and only became active at dusk or dawn when foraging for food. Their sensitivity to sound, light, and movement was strikingly high, suggesting that such "body memory" of wild animals does not easily disappear due to human care.
Instinctive Behaviors Retained by the Hares
- Remaining still and camouflaged during the daytime.
- Rapid sprinting and jumping when startled.
- Higher activity and energy levels at dusk and dawn.
- Strong alertness toward unfamiliar lights and sounds.
- Lack of the habit of stamping their hind legs.
- Emitting a distinctive "tia, tia, tia" sound when alarmed.
- Making striking or pawing gestures as warning signals.
- Performing frantic leaps and bounces when disturbed.
Activity monitoring also showed that Hares No. 18 and No. 19 displayed a clear contrast between daytime and nighttime energy levels. The recorded yellow lines in the activity log indicated heightened movement during the darker hours, further confirming their nocturnal nature.
Note: This observation underscores how deeply ingrained wild instincts are in native species, surviving even after prolonged human handling.
Follow-up on Taiwan Hares No. 18 and 19
To be honest, the association has not yet decided how to proceed with Taiwan hares No. 18 and 19, both of which have already been sterilized. At present, Taiwan lacks comprehensive data on local hare species and has no specialized researchers focused solely on hare studies.
For now, the primary goal is to properly settle these two hares and continue seeking advice from scholars and experts across various fields. By gathering and compiling all available information, the association hopes to develop the most suitable plan moving forward.
There is no single approach that can be called the best—only those most appropriate given the objective and subjective circumstances. The ultimate mission remains clear: to continually sustain and enrich the diversity of Taiwan's wildlife.
Supplementary Statement on the Wild Hare Case
We firmly believe that the caretaker of the wild hares in this case acted entirely out of good will — to rescue, shelter, and care for them. The neutering of the two hares was done without the caretaker's knowledge of their wild origin, and therefore, they should not be blamed. On the contrary, the Association deeply appreciates their kindness.
From another perspective, the caretaker's willingness to share this case has allowed the public to understand an underlying issue concerning wild hares: the problem of sterilization after being kept as pets. This is not an isolated incident — according to our records, there have been several similar cases where wild hares were kept as pets and subsequently neutered.
The case of Wild Hares No. 18 and 19 marks the beginning of a broader conversation. The Rabbit Lovers' Association sincerely urges anyone who is currently caring for a Taiwanese wild hare to report to the Association and participate in joint documentation. Please note that the Association will not require you to surrender or hand over the animals.
Through collective efforts, we can consolidate available information, transform firsthand experiences into meaningful scientific data, and establish a solid foundation for future research and conservation policy development by governmental and academic institutions.
Let us work hand in hand to protect and preserve the wild hares of Taiwan.
