For the last four years, my family and I have been travelling nearly 28 hours by train between Chennai and Kharagpur because we have a pet rabbit.

If we did not have our rabbit, the same journey would take only around 2.5 hours by flight.

Indian airlines currently allow only cats and dogs for cabin travel, while rabbit parents are left without safe options. As a result, many of us are forced to spend huge amounts of money and time on long train journeys simply because our pets are rabbits.

But rabbits are not luggage.

Rabbits are delicate prey animals that can become severely stressed during cargo transport. They are highly sensitive to heat, loud noise, temperature changes, and separation from their owners. Stress can even lead to life-threatening gastrointestinal stasis, a condition that may become fatal within a short time if the rabbit stops eating.

Unlike larger animals, rabbits are generally quiet, non-aggressive, and remain safely enclosed inside carriers throughout travel. Responsible rabbit parents are willing to follow strict airline rules including:

airline-approved carriers,
veterinary fitness certificates,
weight restrictions,
and hygiene guidelines.
Many international airlines already allow rabbits or small animals in aircraft cabins under regulated conditions, including:

Alaska Airlines
Finnair
TAP Air Portugal
Vueling Airlines
Lufthansa (under certain conditions)
Then why are rabbit parents in India still left without humane travel options?

Thousands of rabbit owners across India face difficulties while:

relocating for work or education,
visiting family,
handling emergencies,
or travelling during holidays.
Many rabbits also cannot be safely left in boarding facilities because most pet boarding centers are designed mainly for cats and dogs.

We are NOT asking for unrestricted pet travel.

We are only requesting Indian airlines and DGCA to introduce safe and regulated in-cabin travel policies for rabbits under proper rules and carrier guidelines.

Compassionate travel policies already exist in many parts of the world. India can also move toward more inclusive and welfare-focused pet travel regulations.

Please support this petition and help rabbit parents across India travel safely with their beloved companions.