Wild Hare No.13 Care Record
Case date: March 25, 2023
On March 25, 2023, the association received a report from a local resident in Shuilin Township, Yunlin County, who had found a baby Formosan hare. Volunteers quickly coordinated with local helpers to arrange emergency transport of the young hare to Yunlin High-Speed Rail Station, where another volunteer took over and brought the animal back for safe placement.
On the first day of arrival (March 26), the hare weighed only 93.1 grams and was estimated to be less than a week old. However, it showed very little willingness to actively consume substitute milk. Volunteers prepared a dedicated enclosure for Wild Hare No.13, providing fresh vegetables and water, and opened a project record file under the code name "Hare No.13," hoping it would begin to feed on its own soon.
To better observe its condition, a video monitoring device was installed. Through nightly video feeds, volunteers could check on Hare No.13's activity and general state. From that moment, they began their days and nights of caring companionship with this tiny creature.
Day 1: Monitoring Hare 13
March 27
Early in the morning, volunteers quickly re-measured the weight of Hare 13 and discovered a drop of 4.7 grams, leaving the animal at just 88.4 grams. Although the number seems small, it actually represents about five percent of its total body weight.
To address this, the volunteers immediately began forced feedings with milk replacer once in the morning and once in the evening. Unfortunately, the hare's willingness to feed on its own remained very low.
Video footage from the night showed that Hare 13's activity level was noticeably lower than the previous day, suggesting a decline in energy and overall condition.
Day 3: Caring for Wild Rabbit No. 13
On the third day, the rabbit's weight increased to 99 grams. It was fed twice with formula and given an electrolyte supplement. A volunteer placed another pet rabbit—Wild Rabbit No. 12's foster mother, who had just finished nursing—inside the rabbit enclosure to keep Wild Rabbit No. 13 company. Although the mother rabbit no longer produced milk, she gently groomed Rabbit No. 13 by licking its fur.
During the night, Rabbit No. 13 would crawl close to the mother rabbit for comfort. However, its energy level had already started to decline.
Day 4: Wild Rabbit No. 13 Receives Emergency Care
March 29
On the fourth day, Rabbit No. 13's weight dropped again to 86 grams. Volunteers noticed that the young wild rabbit had become weak and unable to move its hind legs. They immediately rushed it to the veterinary clinic for treatment.
The veterinarian suspected a neurological issue and decided to keep the rabbit under observation. While hospitalized, the doctor provided assisted feeding and medication throughout the day. By evening, the volunteers brought the little rabbit back to the association for continued care.
That night, although still frail, Rabbit No. 13 began to eat tender carrot leaves and alfalfa grass on its own. Since the rabbit showed signs of flaccid paralysis, caregivers decided to separate it from its foster mother to prevent accidental injury during her movements.
After one last unsuccessful attempt at hand-feeding by the foster mother, the volunteers officially took over full artificial care for Rabbit No. 13.
Days 5 to 8: Recovery Journey of Wild Rabbit No. 13
Each night, volunteers stayed overnight at the "Love Rabbits Home" to personally accompany Wild Rabbit No. 13. Every two hours, they provided careful, repeated care — administering medication, feeding milk substitutes and grass powder, and replenishing electrolytes.
One afternoon, when the volunteers weighed the little rabbit, they were thrilled to see it trying to stretch and push itself up using its hind legs again. Compared to the previous days, when it had been completely limp and nearly paralyzed, this was an inspiring sign of progress. The volunteers gained new confidence and continued their dedicated care, and Wild Rabbit No. 13's weight finally began to rise steadily.
Day 9: Wild Hare No.13's Recovery Progress
On the ninth day, the condition of Wild Hare No.13 seemed to have become increasingly stable. As a result, the volunteers began adjusting their care routine—reducing the frequency and number of nighttime feedings. In addition to providing milk substitutes, they also prepared a wider variety of plant-based foods such as vegetables, hay, wild greens, tree leaves, and root vegetables. These changes were intended to help the hare gradually get used to eating on its own.
The volunteers also started to limit direct interaction with Wild Hare No.13 to prevent it from becoming overly dependent on humans for food or losing its natural wariness toward people. Observations from video footage showed that whenever the hare was returned to its nest, it instinctively and swiftly slipped back into the surrounding grass cover to hide, demonstrating its natural survival instincts.
Day 17: Recovery of Hare No. 13
On the seventeenth day, oral medication for Hare No. 13 was discontinued. By this time, its weight had reached 202 grams—a promising sign of steady recovery. With its condition improving, care routines returned to the standard regimen used for other hares, and no special medical attention was needed beyond basic observation.
Morning and evening feedings of replacement milk continued as usual, while Hare No. 13 began exploring a more diverse diet on its own. This marked an important step toward full independence and natural growth.
Days 18–24: Growth Log of Hare 13
Hare 13 continued its steady growth during this stage, maintaining both a healthy appetite and lively spirit. The consistent improvement in weight and activity level indicated strong adaptation to the environment and proper care routines.
Daily observations showed that the hare responded well to feeding schedules and environmental enrichment. Its fur became thicker, and movements appeared smoother and more confident, suggesting balanced development and overall well-being.
These signs of progress mark an encouraging phase in Hare 13's growth journey, reflecting not only physical stability but also vitality and curiosity about its surroundings.
Day 25: Wild Hare No.13's Injury
On Day 25, Wild Hare No.13 was estimated to be around 31 days old and weighed 291 grams. After its evening feeding of milk substitute, it began to explore the surroundings, showing curiosity about the environment. During one excited leap, however, it accidentally bounced into the soft protective panel and landed awkwardly.
After the fall, the hare appeared to have trouble supporting itself with its left hind leg, keeping it curled up weakly. The volunteer quickly took Wild Hare No.13 to a veterinary clinic for examination. X-rays revealed that the left femur was fractured, and the end of the right pelvis was also broken.
Because the hare was still very young and its bones were extremely thin, the veterinarian did not recommend surgery. Instead, oral medication was prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation while allowing the femur to heal naturally. Given the severity of the injuries at the time, the veterinarian concluded that the hare might not be suitable for future release into the wild.
The Remarkable Jumping Ability of Young Hares
Compared with pet rabbits of the same age, young hares show an astonishing difference in agility and strength. While baby pet rabbits are still developing their coordination, hares of similar age already possess remarkable jumping power.
At this stage, a young hare can execute vertical leaps reaching heights of 80 to 100 centimeters—far surpassing the capabilities of its domesticated relatives. This natural athleticism helps hares thrive in the wild, giving them a crucial advantage in escaping predators and navigating rugged terrain.
The contrast between hares and pet rabbits highlights how environmental demands shape physical abilities, demonstrating nature's incredible adaptability.
Wild Rabbit No.13's Recovery Update
After returning to the rescue center, Wild Rabbit No.13 was found to be injured but still full of energy and curiosity. Despite the pain, the rabbit even tried to hop using its other foot.
The volunteers discussed and decided to adjust their care strategy. To prevent further injury, they chose to temporarily limit Wild Rabbit No.13's living space. The smaller area would help reduce jumping and running, allowing the fractured leg bone to heal and reconnect properly.
That night, when it came time to administer the medication, Wild Rabbit No.13, stressed by the pain in its leg, bit one of the volunteers.
Days 26–38: Hare No. 13 Daily Care Log
During this period, activity space was kept limited to ensure safety and steady development. Each morning and evening, the caretaker cleaned and organized the environment, administered prescribed medication, and recorded body weight.
To maintain proper nutrition, Hare No. 13 was fed with a milk substitute one to two times per day. Thanks to these steady routines, the hare's body weight showed consistent growth every day between days 26 and 38.
Day 39: Wild Hare No. 13 Shows Remarkable Recovery
On the 39th day, Wild Hare No. 13 weighed 490 grams and had been living in a restricted space for two weeks. Volunteers observed that its walking movements had become increasingly normal despite the limited environment.
Based on these observations, the team decided to move the hare back into a more natural, outdoor-like care enclosure designed to simulate its wild habitat. From there, they continued close monitoring of its mobility, including its running and jumping behavior.
Through a remote video system, volunteers noticed that Wild Hare No. 13 was demonstrating remarkable resilience. The hare has regained its energy and is now seen sprinting and hopping lively around its enclosure—a promising sign of full recovery.
Day 41: The Little Wild Rabbit's Progress
Today marks the 41st day of caring for the young wild rabbit. Its weight has surpassed 500 grams, and both its eating and drinking habits remain steady and healthy. Based on our observations, the rabbit is approximately 46 days old.
After evaluation, we decided to pause supplemental feeding with milk replacer. As the rabbit shows increasing independence, we have begun to reduce direct handling, limiting interactions to simple weight monitoring and visual checks.
Note: Each small milestone brings the rabbit closer to self-sufficiency. The focus now shifts toward ensuring its growth continues naturally with minimal human interference.
Day 46: The Little Wild Hare's Steady Recovery
On the 46th day, the little wild hare now weighs 576 grams. The oral medication used to treat its bone fracture has been discontinued, as its condition has greatly improved. Its appetite and energy levels are strong, and the weight continues to increase steadily.
To help the hare regain its natural instincts, human interaction has been gradually reduced. Weight is now measured only during cage cleaning, while the rest of the time it is left undisturbed. Once the hare's body weight passes 600 grams—one of the basic conditions for release into the wild—it may soon be reassessed for reintroduction, provided that other health indicators remain stable.
Camera observations show that the hare skillfully gathers surrounding materials to build a nest along secure corners of its enclosure. It is highly sensitive to sounds and changes in light, only appearing when it feels completely safe. Each day, it shows more readiness to return to the natural world where it belongs.
Day 68: Wild Rabbit No. 13's Fright and Recovery
While volunteers were cleaning the rabbit cages, Wild Rabbit No. 13 suddenly became startled and panicked. It began frantically darting and hopping inside the enclosure, repeatedly colliding with the walls. The repeated impacts caused injuries to its head, forehead, and nose, resulting in visible bleeding.
Reacting immediately, the volunteers covered the cage with a large towel and turned off all the lights in the area to help calm the rabbit. After some time in the dark and quiet environment, the rabbit gradually settled down on its own.
However, because of the clear signs of impact-related wounds, the planned release date for Wild Rabbit No. 13 will have to be postponed until further recovery and evaluation are completed.
Note: This record is part of the ongoing rehabilitation log documenting the rescue and recovery process of Wild Rabbit No. 13.
Day 88: A Miraculous Recovery
It's Day 88, and the little hare now weighs 946 grams. Volunteers arranged a follow-up visit to check the healing progress of its previous fracture.
To everyone's amazement, the broken bone of Wild Hare No. 13 has healed exceptionally well — the long bone callus has joined almost perfectly in place! The animal now runs and hops with movements and speed nearly identical to those of a healthy hare. Even the veterinarian was astonished by the outcome.
With such remarkable recovery, the team decided it was time to plan for the hare's return to the wild.
Day 133: Wild Hare No. 13 Returns to Nature
After a series of intensive pre-release training sessions, Wild Hare No. 13 has reached a healthy weight of 1,254 grams. The hare has now completely adapted to its natural instincts and no longer responds calmly to human presence. At the sight or sound of people—or even shifting light—it shows appropriate alertness, hiding or hopping away defensively.
The hare has also developed a broad acceptance of diverse natural foods, indicating strong readiness for life in the wild. All signs suggest that it can now be safely released to return to its natural habitat.
To prevent future collisions, protective padding has been installed around the perimeter of the hare enclosure. With these preparations, Wild Hare No. 13 is ready to reclaim its place in the wild.
Wild Release Record
The association originally planned to release two hares—No. 12 and No. 15—back into their habitat before Hare No. 13. However, the release date was postponed due to the effects of an approaching typhoon's outer circulation.
After several weeks of waiting, and considering that the typhoon season might bring continuous weather disturbances, the association decided to release all three hares together: Hare No. 12 (female), Hare No. 13 (male), and Hare No. 15 (male).
It is the association's hope that these hares will thrive in their new home—far from human activity and free from stray dogs. May they build new hare families and contribute to preserving Taiwan's rich biodiversity within its natural environment.
Releasing Wild Hares Back to Nature
August 2023 – On the eve of the Beginning of Autumn (Lìqiū)
As the season shifted, volunteers from the Love Rabbit Association set out to return three native wild hares—numbers 12, 13, and 15—to their natural habitat. The team departed at one o'clock in the morning, arriving at the release site by five a.m. to organize, prepare, and await the first light of sunrise—the time when hares are most alert and full of life.
When the moment came, the release went swiftly. Hares 12 and 15 shot out of their transport cages the instant the doors opened, dashing into the forest and vanishing in a blur before anyone could capture a photo. Hare 13, who had recovered from an injury and spent more time with humans, lingered quietly inside the cage for a while. Then, shyly stepping out, it looked back at the caretaker, took in its surroundings, and finally followed the others' tracks—hopping away with small, confident bounds.
The entire release was simple and efficient, concluding successfully before six a.m., marking a beautiful moment of return to the wild.
Post-Release Update: Tracking the Wild Hares
Following the completion of the wild hare release mission, several important follow-up tasks were carried out. These included selecting new sites for setting up ecological cameras, retrieving the automatic cameras from the previous mission, and conducting habitat sampling and observation activities.
Once these tasks were completed, the volunteers returned to the habitat gathering point to take a short break. During this time, the project's advisors — Mr. Fu and Ms. Yeh, who oversee the hare habitat — both remarked that they had recently spotted signs of Hare No. 8 (from the previous release). Their independent observations provided exciting confirmation that the earlier release had been successful.
It was truly uplifting news for the whole team, offering hope and motivation for the continued protection of these wild hares.
Comparative Daily Weight Records of Hares 8, 12, 13, and 14
The chart below compares the daily weight records of hares numbered 8, 12, 13, and 14. Each line represents the growth trend of an individual hare during its early developmental period.
The orange line represents Hare 12, which received sufficient mother's milk. As expected, its weight gain was the most significant, and it was the first to surpass the 600-gram mark.
The blue line corresponds to Hare 8, which was fed solely with milk replacer. Its growth rate was the slowest among the group.
Notably, a weight of 200 grams appeared to be a critical growth threshold. After surpassing this point, weight gain accelerated rapidly.
Note: Unfortunately, Hares 14 and "Formosa" were unable to pass this crucial stage and did not survive.
