BANGKOK: Many Asians believe the Year of the Rabbit means good luck for those born under that zodiac sign, but conservationists warn that the furry creatures themselves are being loved to death in Asia and some species are dying away altogether. As the Lunar New Year approaches, rabbits are being snapped up from pet stores and farms but some are warning that the animals will be dumped once the novelty wears off and the cost and trouble of keeping them kicks in. “It's believed that feeding rabbits in their zodiac will bring luck in love and everything else, so especially young people are looking for little, cute bunnies,” says Piyalak Sariya, owner of the Bunny Delight rabbit farm in Thailand. The new year – the fourth in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac that is used across Asia – begins Feb. 3.
