Rabbits
European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Rabbits in Western AustraliaIn Western Australia rabbits are declared pests of agriculture under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 and, as such, landholders are required to control rabbits on their properties. They also have a significant impact on the environment by grazing native flora, having a particular impact on threatened ecological communities or populations of Declared Rare Flora, and competing with native fauna for food and habitat. Feral cats and foxes use rabbits as a reliable source of food, however, when adverse environmental conditions such as long dry summers or drought significantly reduce rabbit populations, feral cats and foxes shift their predation to native species. Controlling the rabbit populationRabbit numbers in Western Australia were significantly reduced by the introduction of the myxoma virus into the State in 1951, which is spread by the mosquito and rabbit flea. Sporadic outbreaks of myxomatosis still affect rabbit populations, however, a general resistance to the virus has developed causing the disease to be less effective and other management options are used for specific control. These include warren fumigation, warren ripping, harbourage destruction and poisoning with 1080 or pindone oats. Rabbit-proof fencing of rare flora areas impacted by rabbits should be considered where feasible. The Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) or calicivirus was released in Western Australian following an agreement to release by all State and Territory governments in 1996. RHDV has only been marginally successful in the temperate and high rainfall areas of the State due to the occurrence of a related virus in the wild rabbit population which provides a level of immunoprotection. Nevertheless, along with myxomatosis and conventional control techniques, RHDV has been effective in helping to keep rabbit numbers low throughout much of the agricultural region, and the rangelands, of Western Australia. The Department of Environment and Conservation will continue to manage rabbit infestations that threaten significant conservation values using the most appropriate and effective management option for the situation. The department also works with neighbours under the guidance of the Good Neighbour Policy, July 2007 and recognises that a coordinated approach with landowners is essential. Links
www.agric.wa.gov.au |
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The rabbit is a native of south-western Europe and was introduced to Britain in the eleventh century. Domestic rabbits arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788 and by 1827 the first feral populations in south-eastern Tasmania numbered in the thousands. The first wild rabbits were introduced to the Australian mainland near Geelong in 1859, they escaped from an enclosure soon after and rapidly increased in numbers taking about 15 years to reach the New South Wales border. In another 15 years they reached Queensland and by 1900 they had reached Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It was the fastest rate of any colonising mammal anywhere in the world (Caughley 1977) closely matched by the European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), which soon followed the invasion of the rabbit across Australia using the rabbit as a reliable and abundant source of food.
