Robby Rabbit Ethogram

Behavioural investigation of a domestic rabbit in 2006/2007

A dilemma of behavioural biology lies in its aim to observe animals under conditions, which can be controlled to the greatest possible extent yet at the same time should be as natural as possible. For her studies on behavioural science, Nana Petzet initially began by taking a pet, a medium-sized, castrated dwarf rabbit, in order to observe and note his reactions. Robby came into the artist’s family in August 2004 at the age of one year and lived there until his death in 2011. Robby was housetrained and could jump over an obstacle on command. His habitat spanned the entire flat. Nana Petzet recorded Robby’s range of behaviours in the form of a research diary, with a focus on his sitting and lying positions, his eating habits and social behaviour. In the exhibition Say it isn't so. Art Trains its Sights on the Natural Sciences (2007) at Weserburg Museum für moderne Kunst in Bremen, Nana Petzet showed a film documenting the behaviour of her rabbit in its everyday life. This intimate study, presented in the exhibition space of the museum, was contrasted by an installation in which the pet was confronted with an experimental alteration to its normal habitat.


1
2

Food consumption

3

4
5

6

7

Cecotropes

8

Retreats / resting places
9

10

11

12

Lying positions

13 14

Toilet
15

Routes in the habitat

16
17
18

19
20 21

Foreign environment
22 23

Space-time system
24

Marking / territorial behaviour
25 26

Cleaning behaviour
27 28 29 30 31

Licking furniture and floor
32 33 34

Occasions for behavioural sequences, substitute object
35 36 37 38 39 40

Escape behaviour
41

Warning
42 43

Appetence behaviour
44
45
46

47
48

Gnawing
49

Attention
50

Play, Cheney / Seyfarth
51

Seeing
52 53 54 55

Smelling
56

Hearing
57 58


59 60 61



Photos: Nana Petzet
Movies: Marc Wiebach
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