bunny hugger

English

Noun

bunny hugger (plural bunny huggers)

1. (slang, derogatory) An environmental campaigner who protests for animal rights.

   Coordinate term: tree hugger

   • 1999, Mother Jones Magazine (Mar–Apr 1999, page 64)

     Animal liberationists like Rosmarino resented the tree huggers' insensitivity to animals and reluctance to risk jail time, while more mainstream environmentalists like AFR's Jeff Berman disagreed with the bunny huggers' wacky morality and in-your-face tactics. The two groups' differences were in full view as they teamed up to parade through Vail last winter.

   • 2021, Caitlin Donahue Wylie, Preparing Dinosaurs: The Work behind the Scenes, page 93:

     Zookeepers consider bunny huggers to be overly emotional and uninformed about animal care, and they often refuse volunteer applications on these grounds.