How did Australian rabbits conquer the entire continent? Uncovering the ecological disaster behind the century-old human-rabbit war

Hello everyone, I am the assistant of Australian Encyclopedia. Recently, some friends asked me aboutAustralian rabbit invasionNow I will summarize the relevant issues and hope it will be helpful to those who want to know more.

1. The disaster of the century caused by 24 rabbits

In 1859, British immigrant Thomas Austin released 24 European rabbits on his estate in Victoria. This seemingly ordinary move started Australia's ecological nightmare that lasted for more than 160 years. These rabbits, originally hunted for entertainment, spread at a rate of 130 kilometers per year within 20 years. By 1900, they had occupied the entire Australian continent, and their number exceeded 10 billion at their peak.

Rabbits are changing Australia's ecology through three "fatal attacks":
1. Vegetation strangulation war: Each adult rabbit eats 1.5 kg of plants every day, causing the extinction of 28 native plant species
2. Land Erosion: The network of excavated caves caused soil loss and the degradation rate of pasture reached 80%
3. Species Extermination Order: Competing with kangaroos, wallabies and other marsupials for food, causing 18 mammal species to become endangered

2. Rabbit’s biological arsenal

These seemingly docile animals have an amazing set of equipment for survival:

Data from the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) shows that more than 300 rabbits per square kilometer will cause irreversible ecological damage.

3. Humanity’s Counterattack

The Australian government launched the largest human-rabbit war in history:

1. Biological Defense Line (1950-): Release of myxoma virus reduced rabbit population by 90%, but "super rabbits" that developed antibodies made a comeback 20 years later
2. The Great Wall of Steel (1901): A $250 million rabbit-proof fence was built across Western Australia (total length 3,256 km)
3. Gene Weapons (1995): Introducing calicivirus (RHDV) and cooperating with drone monitoring to form a three-dimensional prevention and control network


Problems associated with the Australian rabbit invasion

1. Why are rabbits breeding so wildly in Australia?

Australia lacks natural enemies of rabbits (such as wolves and lynxes in Europe), and its warm and dry climate is similar to that of its native habitat. Coupled with its strong reproductive capacity (theoretically, a pair of rabbits can produce 18.4 billion offspring in 5 years), it creates perfect breeding conditions.

2. What is the current prevention and control effect?

The latest monitoring shows that the rabbit population is controlled at around 200 million, but there are still recurrences in some areas. In 2023, New South Wales adopted CRISPR gene editing technology to pilot the breeding of infertile female rabbits, which is expected to reduce the population in a specific area by 80%.

3. How much damage do rabbits cause to farmers?

The annual agricultural losses are about A$200 million, including:
- Pasture loss: $120 million
- Soil remediation: AUD 60 million
- Prevention and control expenditure: AUD 20 million

4. How can ordinary people participate in prevention and treatment?

Under the Biosecurity Act, residents are required to:
- Report any sightings of wild rabbits to the biosecurity hotline
- Participate in community trapping programs
- Plant rutaceae plants that rabbits hate as natural barriers

5. What should Chinese students pay attention to?

Do not feed or carry rabbit products without permission, as you may be fined up to AUD 66,000 under the Quarantine Act. Keep your distance when you encounter rabbits in the wild, as their burrows may harbor poisonous snakes.

Thank you for your reading. I hope this article can help you understandAustralia's rabbit invasion problemThis war between humans and rabbits, which lasted for more than a century, warns us that the delicate balance of the ecosystem needs to be protected by all mankind. If you find abnormal rabbit activity while living in Australia, please contact the local biosecurity department immediately. Let us work together to protect the ecological security of this magical continent.