Rabbit plagues in Australia

European rabbits in Australia 2004
Load of over 3,800 rabbits at Mudgee caught during 1919 plague
Rabbits around a waterhole at the myxomatosis trial enclosure on Wardang Island in 1938
Boy with rabbits caught during plague in 1949 near Kerang
Rabbits in Warren, New South Wales during a plague in 1949
Releasing the Myxoma virus for Rabbits c. 1937
Wild rabbit in Australia
The Rabbit-Proof Fence Australia in 2006

Rabbit plagues in Australia have occurred several times throughout parts of Australia since wild European rabbits were introduced by European colonists.[1]

Introduction

Rabbits were introduced to Australia with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.[2] A population of 24 rabbits were released near Geelong in 1859 to be hunted for sport. The native quolls predated upon rabbits[3] and prior to 1870, many accounts recorded quolls impeding their establishment on the mainland while island colonies thrived.[4] Quolls were systematically exterminated[5] by colonists to defend introduced species such as chickens.[6] Within 50 years rabbits had spread throughout most of the continent with devastating impact on indigenous flora and fauna.[7][2]

The species had spread throughout Victoria and by 1880 was found in New South Wales. Rabbits were found in South Australia and Queensland by 1886 and by 1890 were in eastern parts of Western Australia[2] and the Northern Territory in the 1900s. Feral rabbits were found throughout most of their current range by 1910.[8]

1800s

Large numbers of rabbits were reported around Geelong in 1869[9] and around Campbell Town in Tasmania later the same year.[10] A large scale plague occurred in 1871 throughout parts of Tasmania starting prior to March,[11] with farmers using strychnine in an attempt to control numbers[12] and continuing through to May of the same year.[13]

In 1876 a plague was reported in districts around Kapunda in South Australia[14] with a commission being established to find the cause and suitable methods of control of the problem.[15]

Areas between the Riverina through to the Mallee country[16] and Charlton were being plagued by large numbers of rabbits in 1877[17] and 1878.[18] The Rabbits Nuisance Suppression Bill was introduced into the Parliament of Victoria in an effort to combat the problem.[19] By 1878 and early 1879 the plague had spread into northern areas of South Australia[20][21] Numbers of rabbits in the affected areas were still considered problematic through the 1880s[22][23] and 1890s.

1900s

Large numbers of the pest were still found throughout parts of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia[24] and Western Australia[25] through the early 1900s while the areas were also gripped by drought.[24] After the drought broke in around 1904 numbers of rabbits and mice started to grow again in the same areas as well as parts of Queensland to plague proportions.[26][27][28][29][30]

Following a reduction in numbers during the drought of 1914 to 1915,[31] plagues of rabbits were reported in 1918 through parts of South Australia and western New South Wales.[32][33]

In 1932 and 1933 rabbits again bred up in large numbers in parts of New South Wales,[34][35] South Australian and Victoria causing massive damage to crops and feed.[36]

The same year, Jean Macnamara – a young Australian scientist working in America – was undertaking research into the use of the myxoma virus in rabbits following a rabbit outbreak in California. After an unsuccessful attempt to send the virus to Australia, Macnamara carried it with her to London, handing over her data to fellow scientist Charles Martin to continue testing. Martin concluded that the virus caused no harm to surrounding wildlife, livestock, or humans so field trails began on Wardang Island. However, the virus failed to transmit between rabbits and in 1943 experiments were halted.[37]

After World War II – during which time Australia's rabbit population grew due to lack of culling – Macnamara resumed myxoma virus tests on rabbit populations, with field trials beginning in 1950. These trials showed that wetter climates enabled the virus to spread, where mosquitoes and other insects carried the virus between rabbits. This led to rabbit populations declining rapidly by 1953.[37]

Field trials for the myxomatosis virus were carried out in 1936 by the CSIR Division of Animal Health and Nutrition as a method of controlling rabbit population. The trials were successful in killing rabbits in their warrens but did not spread well between warrens.[38]

By 1946 another plague was being predicted by graziers following a drought breaking,[39] and numbers of rabbits started to rise in 1948 [40] and continue into 1949 and 1950[41] causing massive damage to crops in parts of New South Wales,[42] Victoria[43] and South Australia[44] in a plague described as the worst rabbit plague in Australia's history.[43][45]

The myxomatosis virus was released in 1950 to reduce pest rabbit numbers. It initially reduced the wild rabbit population by 95% but since then resistance to the virus has increased.[46]

2000s

Another plague occurred in 2011 in parts of South Australia, the worst that had occurred in Australia since the release of the calicivirus in 1995.[47]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Myxomatosis to control rabbits". CSIROpedia. CSIRO. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Wendy Zukerman (8 April 2009). "Australia's battle with the bunny". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  3. ^ G. D. Linley, A. Rypalski, G. Story, and E. G. Ritchie (2020). "Run rabbit run: spotted-tailed quoll diet reveals invasive prey is top of the menu". Australian Mammalogy. 43 (2): 221–225. doi:10.1071/AM19069. S2CID 222131937. Retrieved 11 December 2019.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ David Peacock, Ian Abbott. "The role of quoll (Dasyurus) predation in the outcome of pre-1900 introductions of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) to the mainland and islands of Australia". Australian Journal of Zoology. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  5. ^ Dale Nimmo, Euan Ritchie, Thomas Newsome (23 January 2015). "Mourn our lost mammals, while helping the survivors battle back". The Conversation. Retrieved 23 January 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Craig Allen (11 December 2021). "Two spotted-tailed quolls expected to 'mop up' endangered animals in Canberra's Mulligan's Flat sanctuary". ABC News. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Defining moments in Australian history". National Museum Australia. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  8. ^ "The Rabbit Problem". Rabbit Free Australia. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Current topics". Geelong Advertiser. No. 6984. Victoria. 30 March 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "The rabbit plague". The Mercury. Vol. XV, no. 2708. Tasmania. 6 September 1869. p. 3. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "The Mercury". The Mercury. Vol. XIX, no. 3181. Tasmania. 4 March 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Rabbits and their cause". The Mercury. Vol. XIX, no. 3185. Tasmania. 9 March 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Miscellaneous". The Tasmanian. Vol. I, no. 17. Tasmania. 27 May 1871. p. 10. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "THE RABBIT NUISANCE". Kapunda Herald and Northern Intelligencer. Vol. XII, no. 844. South Australia. 21 July 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "The Rabbit Plague". Kapunda Herald and Northern Intelligencer. Vol. XII, no. 845. South Australia. 26 July 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Melbourne". Geelong Advertiser. No. 9, 761. Victoria. 25 October 1878. p. 3. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "The Riberine Herald Echuca, Moama and Kerang Advertiser". Riverine Herald. Vol. XV, no. 1633. New South Wales. 11 October 1878. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "The Rabbit Plague". The Ballarat Star. Vol. XXIII, no. 240. Victoria. 7 October 1878. p. 3. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Parliament". Geelong Advertiser. No. 9, 761. Victoria. 25 October 1878. p. 3. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Farm & Station". The Week. Vol. VI, no. 156. Brisbane. 21 December 1878. p. 5. Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Political". The Argus. No. 10, 173. Melbourne. 24 January 1879. p. 1 (The Argus Summary for Europe). Retrieved 14 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "The Rabbit Plague". The Australasian. Vol. XXXI, no. 802. Victoria. 13 August 1881. p. 6. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Rural notes and comments". Adelaide Observer. Vol. XXXIX, no. 2123. 10 June 1882. p. 9. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ a b "Drought-slain rabbits". The Riverine Grazier. New South Wales. 8 January 1904. p. 4. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Western Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 January 1901. p. 9. Retrieved 16 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "The rabbit question". The Register. Vol. LXIX, no. 17, 836. Adelaide. 13 January 1904. p. 8. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "Local Jottings". Wellington Times. No. 1548. New South Wales. 25 January 1904. p. 2. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "Alarming spread of rabbits". Western Champion. Vol. XXIII, no. 4. New South Wales. 29 January 1904. p. 6. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "Country news Booleroo Centre". Petersburg Times. Vol. XVI, no. 860. South Australia. 31 May 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Farm and Station rural notes". Western Mail. Vol. XIX, no. 962. Western Australia. 4 June 1904. p. 4. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Tumby Bay to Cowell". Eyre's Peninsula Tribune. Vol. VIII, no. 398. South Australia. 18 January 1918. p. 1. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "Rabbit Plague Faced". Riverine Herald. No. 13, 817 (Daily ed.). New South Wales. 20 June 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. ^ "Patches". Lachlander and Condobolin and Western Districts Recorder. Vol. XII, no. 663. New South Wales. 3 July 1918. p. 1. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. ^ "The scene has changed". Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative. New South Wales. 8 June 1933. p. 4. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. ^ "Local and General". Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh. New South Wales. 22 June 1933. p. 4. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ "Rabbit plague becoming worse". Recorder. No. 10, 488. South Australia. 9 December 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ a b http://www.aips.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Jean-MacNamara-Fighting-for-the-Environment.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  38. ^ "Myxomatosis to control rabbits". CSIROpedia. CSIRO. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  39. ^ "Exterminate Rabbits, Urge Graziers". The Argus. No. 31, 068. Melbourne. 28 March 1946. p. 10. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. ^ "Inspector Issues Rabbit Warning". The Farmer & Settler. Vol. XLIII, no. 36. New South Wales. 8 October 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ "Rabbits winning "battle"". The Argus. No. 32, 268. Melbourne. 1 February 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  42. ^ "Worst Rabbit Plague In N.W. For 30 Years". The Newcastle Sun. No. 9649. New South Wales. 3 December 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. ^ a b "Rabbit plague at new peak". Tweed Daily. Vol. XXXVI, no. 5. New South Wales. 6 January 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  44. ^ "The news editorial". The News. Vol. 52, no. 7, 942. Adelaide. 18 January 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. ^ "Rabbit plague the worst yet". The Dungog Chronicle: Durham and Gloucester Advertiser. New South Wales. 8 January 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  46. ^ "Myxomatosis". RSPCA. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  47. ^ Nigel Austin (21 August 2011). "Worst rabbit plague since 1995 could spiral out of control". The Advertiser. Retrieved 16 January 2018.