Don't mind me asking, but why rabbits?

I don't think anyone really knows. Have you done the Verne Mine quests yet? I know some of the NPCs in there mention this. The Black Wings have different races/species within their ranks, although I don't think it's ever explained why.

 Do not read this unless you want to spoil some details regarding the Verne Mine quests

There are two Mu Lung bears practicing their fighting/meditating while acting as security guards in there. I know one of the quests in there has a security guard bunny essentially insult you for being human. They seem to have enslaved cart-riding bears and shoveling raccoons in the mines as well. Then there are the robots/androids, in which I think one of the bunnies has you try to scare one of them in order to figure out if they are capable of some type of emotion.