[On-site Video] "Abandoning Elementary School Rabbit... Take Responsibility" Civic Group Rally

Rabbit Protection Alliance: "Animal Abuse and Negative Impact on Student Education"

[Asia Economy Yoon Jin-geun PD] “Illegal Abandonment of (Animals) in Elementary Schools, Education Office Must Take Responsibility!”

As elementary school teachers released rabbits they had been raising on campus into a nearby mountain, a civic group held a rally urging the education office to come up with countermeasures.

The Rabbit Protection Coalition held a rally on the afternoon of the 28th in front of the main gate of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The group defined the recent release of about 40 burrowing rabbits by elementary school teachers in Suraksan, Gunpo, as ‘abandonment’ and urged the education office to take responsible measures.

They revealed that on the 9th, teachers from Elementary School A located in Seodaemun-gu released about 40 rabbits into Surisan Mountain in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province. According to the group, students belonging to the school’s rabbit club had been raising rabbits in a breeding facility since 2018. However, due to failure to control breeding in time, the number of rabbits increased to about 70, and except for 5 left behind, 20 were given away, and 40 were released.

According to the Animal Protection Act, rabbits are considered companion animals, and under the Livestock Act, they are classified as livestock. Releasing rabbits into mountains or similar areas is considered abandonment under current law. The school stated that they were unaware that releasing rabbits into a mountain was illegal.

On the afternoon of the 28th, the Rabbit Protection Coalition held a rally in front of the main gate of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The group defined the recent release of about 40 burrowing rabbits by elementary school teachers in Suraksan, Gunpo, as abandonment and urged the education office to come up with responsible measures.

The Rabbit Protection Coalition revealed that on the 9th, teachers from ㄱ Elementary School in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, released about 40 rabbits in Surisan, Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. The photo shows rabbits during the rescue operation conducted by the Rabbit Protection Coalition for the rabbits released in Surisan. Photo by Rabbit Protection Coalition

The group strongly criticized the school’s explanation. Hyegeum (activist name), an activist from the Rabbit Protection Coalition, said, “I hope they no longer use ignorance as a shield,” adding, “This is an admission of how ignorant and indifferent the school principal was toward the educational program operated within the school. It is dereliction of duty.”

The Rabbit Protection Coalition explained that the rabbits released by the elementary school could not adapt to the Korean wild due to species differences. Activist Hyegeum pointed out, “They are burrowing rabbits, completely different from Korea’s native mountain rabbits. Their chromosome numbers, habits, origins, and ecology are all different, so they lack the ability to survive in the Korean wild.”

On the afternoon of the 28th, the Rabbit Protection Coalition held a rally in front of the main gate of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The group defined the recent release of about 40 burrowing rabbits by elementary school teachers in Suraksan, Gunpo, as abandonment and urged the education office to take responsible measures. The photo was taken by the Rabbit Protection Coalition during the rescue of the rabbits, showing flies and maggots on the rabbits' wounds. Photo by Jin-geun Yoon, PD yoon@

Participants in the rally held placards with photos of the rabbits at the time they were rescued. The photos showed rabbits unable to adapt to the mountain, injured by top predators, with wounds infested by maggots, flies, and other insects.

The Rabbit Protection Coalition shouted slogans such as “Stop raising animals in elementary schools immediately,” “Abolish animal experience programs in elementary schools immediately,” and “Close down rabbit cages that lack respect for life.”

The group also pointed out that raising rabbits without adequate environment negatively affects student education. Ms. Shin Jeong-hwa (43) said, “Rabbits dig burrows and make rooms suited to their needs. (At school) they are raised in a heap on a flat surface in one place. Children who see this might think, ‘I guess it’s okay to leave rabbits like that.’” She added, “This is not a form of education that respects animals. It teaches abuse.”

The Rabbit Protection Alliance held a rally on the afternoon of the 28th in front of the main gate of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education stated that they will establish clear measures after an internal review. The photo shows the exterior of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the afternoon of the 28th. Photo by Jin-geun Yoon, PD yoon@

The rally organizers urged the education office to prepare measures to prevent recurrence. Activist Hyegeum demanded that the education office “conduct a thorough investigation of breeding facilities where animals are indiscriminately exhibited and raised in many schools nationwide, and develop specific operational plans from an animal welfare perspective for the currently protected individuals.” She also requested, “Promise to completely stop the establishment of new animal breeding facilities that lead to animal abuse and abandonment.”

An education office official said, “We are reviewing how to approach this issue from the standpoint of supporting schools,” adding, “(After internal review) clear measures will be prepared.”