rabbit plagues in Australia

Rabbits were introduced to Australia with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/04/08/2538860.htm|title=Australia's battle with the bunny|author=Wendy Zukerman|date=8 April 2009 |access-date=14 January 2018|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} A population of 24 rabbits were released near Geelong in 1859 to be hunted for sport. The native quolls predated upon rabbits{{cite journal|url=https://www.publish.csiro.au/am/am19069|title=Run rabbit run: spotted-tailed quoll diet reveals invasive prey is top of the menu|author=G. D. Linley, A. Rypalski, G. Story, and E. G. Ritchie|year=2020 |access-date=11 December 2019|journal=Australian Mammalogy|volume=43 |issue=2 |pages=221–225 |doi=10.1071/AM19069 |s2cid=222131937 |url-access=subscription }} and prior to 1870, many accounts recorded quolls impeding their establishment on the mainland while island colonies thrived.{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270806585|title=The role of quoll (Dasyurus) predation in the outcome of pre-1900 introductions of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) to the mainland and islands of Australia|author=David Peacock, Ian Abbott|access-date=30 January 2013|publisher=Australian Journal of Zoology}} Quolls were systematically exterminated{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/mourn-our-lost-mammals-while-helping-the-survivors-battle-back-36126|title=Mourn our lost mammals, while helping the survivors battle back|author=Dale Nimmo, Euan Ritchie, Thomas Newsome|date=23 January 2015 |access-date=23 January 2015|publisher=The Conversation}} by colonists to defend introduced species such as chickens.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-12/spotted-tailed-quolls-released-into-mulligans-flat-sanctuary/100686726|title=Two spotted-tailed quolls expected to 'mop up' endangered animals in Canberra's Mulligan's Flat sanctuary|author=Craig Allen|access-date=11 December 2021|newspaper=ABC News|date=11 December 2021 }} Within 50 years rabbits had spread throughout most of the continent with devastating impact on indigenous flora and fauna.{{cite web|url=http://www.nma.gov.au/online_features/defining_moments/featured/rabbits_introduced|title=Defining moments in Australian history|access-date=14 January 2018|publisher=National Museum Australia}}

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 and the Northern Territory in the 1900s. Feral rabbits were found throughout most of their current range by 1910.{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitfreeaustralia.com.au/rabbits/the-rabbit-problem/|title=The Rabbit Problem|access-date=14 January 2018|publisher=Rabbit Free Australia}}

Large numbers of rabbits were reported around Geelong in 1869{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148880075 |title=Current topics|newspaper=Geelong Advertiser |issue=6984 |location=Victoria |date=30 March 1869 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} and around Campbell Town in Tasmania later the same year.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8861118 |title=The rabbit plague.|newspaper=The Mercury |volume=XV |issue=2708 |location=Tasmania |date=6 September 1869 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} A large scale plague occurred in 1871 throughout parts of Tasmania starting prior to March,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8867254 |title=The Mercury|newspaper=The Mercury |volume=XIX |issue=3181 |location=Tasmania |date=4 March 1871 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} with farmers using strychnine in an attempt to control numbers{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8870284 |title=Rabbits and their cause |newspaper=The Mercury |volume=XIX |issue=3185 |location=Tasmania |date=9 March 1871 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} and continuing through to May of the same year.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201346923 |title=Miscellaneous|newspaper=The Tasmanian |volume=I |issue=17 |location=Tasmania |date=27 May 1871 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In 1876 a plague was reported in districts around Kapunda in South Australia{{cite news|title=THE RABBIT NUISANCE.

|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108371229 |newspaper=Kapunda Herald and Northern Intelligencer |volume=XII |issue=844 |location=South Australia |date=21 July 1876 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} with a commission being established to find the cause and suitable methods of control of the problem.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108371245 |title=The Rabbit Plague|newspaper=Kapunda Herald and Northern Intelligencer |volume=XII |issue=845 |location=South Australia |date=26 July 1876 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Areas between the Riverina through to the Mallee country{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147319986 |title=Melbourne.|newspaper=Geelong Advertiser |issue=9,761 |location=Victoria |date=25 October 1878 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} and Charlton were being plagued by large numbers of rabbits in 1877{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113576900 |title=The Riberine Herald Echuca, Moama and Kerang Advertiser. |newspaper=Riverine Herald |volume=XV |issue=1633 |location=New South Wales |date=11 October 1878 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} and 1878.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199344735 |title=The Rabbit Plague|newspaper=The Ballarat Star |volume=XXIII |issue=240 |location=Victoria |date=7 October 1878 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} The Rabbits Nuisance Suppression Bill was introduced into the Parliament of Victoria in an effort to combat the problem.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147319977 |title=Parliament.|newspaper=Geelong Advertiser |issue=9,761 |location=Victoria |date=25 October 1878 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} By 1878 and early 1879 the plague had spread into northern areas of South Australia{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article181823436 |title=Farm & Station.|newspaper=The Week |volume=VI |issue=156 |location=Brisbane |date=21 December 1878 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5929648 |title=Political |newspaper=The Argus |issue=10,173 |location=Melbourne|date=24 January 1879 |access-date=14 January 2018 |page=1 (The Argus Summary for Europe) |via=National Library of Australia}} Numbers of rabbits in the affected areas were still considered problematic through the 1880s{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138069778 |title=The Rabbit Plague |newspaper=The Australasian |volume=XXXI |issue=802 |location=Victoria |date=13 August 1881 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160158340 |title=Rural notes and comments |newspaper=Adelaide Observer |volume=XXXIX |issue=2123 |date=10 June 1882 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} and 1890s.

Large numbers of the pest were still found throughout parts of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14381591 |title=Western Australia|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=5 January 1901 |access-date=16 January 2018 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} through the early 1900s while the areas were also gripped by drought.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140147887 |title=Drought-slain rabbits. |newspaper=The Riverine Grazier |location=New South Wales |date=8 January 1904 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55685117 |title=The rabbit question |newspaper=The Register |volume=LXIX |issue=17,836 |location=Adelaide |date=13 January 1904 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137885971 |title=Local Jottings. |newspaper=Wellington Times |issue=1548 |location=New South Wales |date=25 January 1904 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112465535 |title=Alarming spread of rabbits |newspaper=Western Champion |volume=XXIII |issue=4 |location=New South Wales |date=29 January 1904 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109480008 |title=Country news Booleroo Centre |newspaper=Petersburg Times |volume=XVI |issue=860 |location=South Australia |date=31 May 1904 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38682296 |title=Farm and Station rural notes. |newspaper=Western Mail |volume=XIX |issue=962 |location=Western Australia |date=4 June 1904 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Following a reduction in numbers during the drought of 1914 to 1915,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219278649 |title=Tumby Bay to Cowell. |newspaper=Eyre's Peninsula Tribune |volume=VIII |issue=398 |location=South Australia |date=18 January 1918 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}} plagues of rabbits were reported in 1918 through parts of South Australia and western New South Wales.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90178665 |title=Rabbit Plague Faced. |newspaper=Riverine Herald |issue=13,817 |location=New South Wales |date=20 June 1918 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=2|edition=Daily |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214001476 |title=Patches |newspaper=Lachlander and Condobolin and Western Districts Recorder |volume=XII |issue=663 |location=New South Wales|date=3 July 1918 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In 1932 and 1933 rabbits again bred up in large numbers in parts of New South Wales,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162009700 |title=The scene has changed |newspaper=Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative |location=New South Wales|date=8 June 1933 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113676527 |title=Local and General |newspaper=Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh |location=New South Wales |date=22 June 1933 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} South Australia and Victoria causing massive damage to crops and feed.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96018683 |title=Rabbit plague becoming worse |newspaper=Recorder |issue=10,488 |location=South Australia |date=9 December 1932 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}

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 trials began on Wardang Island. However, the virus failed to transmit between rabbits and in 1943 experiments were halted.{{Cite web | url=http://www.aips.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Jean-MacNamara-Fighting-for-the-Environment.pdf | title=Jean MacNamara - fighting for the environment | website=www.aips.net.au}}

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.

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.{{cite web|url=https://csiropedia.csiro.au/myxomatosis-to-control-rabbits/|title=Myxomatosis to control rabbits|work=CSIROpedia|date=20 March 2011 |access-date=22 January 2018|publisher=CSIRO}}

By 1946 another plague was being predicted by graziers following a drought breaking,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22237171 |title=Exterminate Rabbits, Urge Graziers |newspaper=The Argus |issue=31,068 |location=Melbourne|date=28 March 1946 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}} and numbers of rabbits started to rise in 1948 {{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122979716 |title=Inspector Issues Rabbit Warning |newspaper=The Farmer & Settler |volume=XLIII |issue=36 |location=New South Wales |date=8 October 1948 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} and continue into 1949 and 1950{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22808063 |title=Rabbits winning "battle" |newspaper=The Argus |issue=32,268 |location=Melbourne|date=1 February 1950 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}} causing massive damage to crops in parts of New South Wales,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158242369 |title=Worst Rabbit Plague In N.W. For 30 Years |newspaper=The Newcastle Sun |issue=9649 |location=New South Wales |date=3 December 1948 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}} Victoria{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article194566590 |title=Rabbit plague at new peak |newspaper=Tweed Daily |volume=XXXVI |issue=5 |location=New South Wales |date=6 January 1949 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} and South Australia{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130239227 |title=The news editorial |newspaper=The News |volume=52 |issue=7,942 |location=Adelaide |date=18 January 1949 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} in a plague described as the worst rabbit plague in Australia's history.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136165409 |title=Rabbit plague the worst yet |newspaper=The Dungog Chronicle: Durham and Gloucester Advertiser |location=New South Wales |date=8 January 1949 |access-date=15 January 2018 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.rspcavic.org/health-and-behaviour/rabbits/myxomatosis|title=Myxomatosis|access-date=2 January 2018|publisher=RSPCA}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/worst-rabbit-plague-since-1995-could-spiral-out-of-control/news-story/02cc6fb774bf68ed9d3c51d4bec397bb|title=Worst rabbit plague since 1995 could spiral out of control|access-date=16 January 2018|date=21 August 2011|work=The Advertiser|author=Nigel Austin}}

{{Portal|Australia}}

• Rabbits in Australia
• Mouse plagues in Australia

{{reflist|2}}

Category:Rabbits

Category:Population ecology

Category:Invasive mammal species

Category:Feral animals

Category:Environmental issues in Australia