Susan photographed these rabbits in the Australian Alps last year
Normally the story told is that European rabbits were first introduced to Australia in 1859 by Thomas Austin, a settler who asked his nephew in England to send 24 wild rabbits which he then released on his property in Victoria for hunting.
But rabbits actually arrived in Australia with the first fleet in 1788, and there were at least 59 other attempts to introduce the animals. All of these were domesticated meat animals, but they never became an invasive species.
A recent combination of genetic research and a trawl through archives has discovered that the story as recounted is basically true, but there are some interesting details.
The rabbits came from Somerset, but "wild rabbits were by no means common round Baltonsborough. It was only with great difficulty that he managed to get six; these were half-grown specimens taken from their nests and tamed. To make up the number he bought seven grey rabbits that the villagers had kept in hutches, either as pets or to eat." (Joan Palmer, granddaughter of the nephew in England)
Thus, 13 rabbits were sent from England, but they had increased in number over the 80 day voyage to Melbourne. Rabbits do that...
The reason that these rabbits were able to survive in the wild is an accident of this genetic variation. Whereas the previous rabbits were of individual breeds, the mixed lineage of the "Austin rabbits" obviously gave them a survival advantage.
Within decades, they had spread across most of the continent and by the early 20th century, rabbits had become a major pest, wreaking havoc on the environment and agriculture. They fed on native vegetation, leading to soil erosion and the destruction of habitats for native species. Their burrowing and grazing habits caused widespread damage to crops and pasturelands, costing farmers millions in losses.
Efforts to control the rabbit population have included fencing, hunting, poisoning, and biological control. One of the earliest and most ambitious physical barriers was the Rabbit-Proof Fence, constructed in Western Australia in the early 1900s. However, rabbits often found ways around or under such obstacles.
A rabbit trapper in Braidwood NSW in 1923
Biological control methods had more significant success. In the 1950s, the introduction of the myxoma virus caused rabbit populations to plummet by over 90% in some areas. However, over time, both the virus and the rabbits evolved — the virus became less lethal, and rabbits developed resistance. In the 1990s, a second virus, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), was introduced with some success, though resistance is again emerging.
Despite all these efforts, rabbits remain a persistent problem. They continue to impact native ecosystems and agriculture to the cost of about 200 million Australian dollars a year.
These days, the Easter Bunny has been replaced by the Easter Bilby.
The original research is here https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/dna-profiling-solves-australia-rabbit-plague-puzzle
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