Feral rabbits are a major pest in Australia, particularly in rural areas like Shoalhaven Region, NSW. Control measures have become ineffective or inhumane. Effective long-term measures are needed to protect agriculture while minimizing harm to the environment and other species. The document discusses current control methods, the impacts of rabbits, and plans by government to address the issue through community involvement and release of a new virus strain from 2015-2030.

1. Image: “Rabbit” (The Advertiser, 2014)
Janie Hamilton (15221809)
EDC171: Inquiring about the World; Assessment 2b

2. Problem Statement
Rapid breeding of feral rabbits causes
significant environmental issues
throughout Australia, particularly
in rural and farming locations
such as Shoalhaven Region, NSW.
Image: “Rabbit” (The Advertiser, 2014)
Control measures have become ineffective or considered
inhumane (ABC Science, 2009; Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, 2014).

3. Image: “Rabbit Plague” (The Advertiser, 2014)
Effective control measures require consideration of the
on-flow effects to other living things and the environment.
“What measures may be implemented to
ensure long term protection from the impact of
pest rabbits in the Shoalhaven Region?”
Image: “Rabbit” (The Advertiser, 2014)

4. Here is why you should care about it…
Feral rabbits are
“Australia’s greatest pest”
(Drollette, 1996, p.192),
threatening
“86 plant and animal species in NSW”
(Saunders, Cooke, McColl, Shine & Peacock, 2010, p.289)
costing Australian Agriculture
“$115million year” in overgrazing” (NSW Dept of Env. & Cons., 2011).
Image: “Rabbit Damage”
(Darling Downs Moreton Rabbit Board, 2014)

5. Mass elimination
of pest rabbits
disrupts animal food chains,
resulting in pest animals such as foxes
attacking poultry, livestock and domestic pets.
Image: Fox & Rabbit (Morrison, 2012)Image: Fox (Getty Images,2013)

6. However, no action results in
rabbit plagues destroying farmland
with overgrazing,
threatening food supplies and the economy.
Image: “Rabbit Plague” (The Advertiser, 2014)

7. Therefore, it is essential we find a
balanced solution
to ensure
future sustainability.
Images: “Rabbit Balance” (Top 10 of Anything and Everything, 2014)

8. * How do current rabbit control methods in the
Shoalhaven Region address future sustainability?
* What plan could be put in place to prevent future rabbit
outbreaks, ensuring social, cultural and scientific issues
are addressed? How would this plan affect other species,
the ecosystem and surrounding areas?
* How is funding and approval obtained? Is the plan
feasible?

9. Key Findings
Australia’s rabbit infestation, human population
and land area is too large for
mechanical rabbit control methods
such as baiting or shooting to be effective
or financially viable as a single solution.
(Rabbitscan, 2014).
Image: “Rabbitshooting “(The Australian, 2012).Image: “BunnyBait “(The Farmstore, 2013).

10. Biological control methods
such as releasing the
“Rabbit Callici Virus (RHDV)”
as employed by Shoalhaven Council
(Shoalhaven City Council, 2014, par.2)
have proven successful in the past
however
rabbits are developing immunity to these viruses.
Image: RHDV (University of Otago, 2014)

11. Alternate control methods may take up to
ten years to plan and implement (Saunders, et.al., 2010).
Image: Ten Years (Al-Haq, 2014)

12. The Australian Government are
planning to
release strengthened strains of the RHDV Virus
from South Korea,
during 2015 to 2030
(Austin, 2014, par.1 & 11).

13. Federal and NSW State Government
aim to engage community support to protect the agriculture
industry from future rabbit plagues formulating;
“The Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity
(IGAB) in 2012”
(Commonwealth of Australia, 2014)
“New South Wales Biosecurity Strategy 2013-2021”
(NSW Dept. of Primary Industries, 2013, p.1)
“Rabbitscan.net.au website” in 2011
(NSW Dept. of Primary Industries, 2013, p.23)

14. The “Rabbitscan.net.au website”
(NSW Dept. of Primary Industries, 2013)
tracks evidence of rabbits and their impact
and includes a mapping tool
for community members to
create local area rabbit management plans.
Images: Rabbit Warren & Rabbit (Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, 2014)

15. Whilst Government Plans aim to address rabbit plagues, plans
are only successful with community support
as rabbits will continue breeding and
spreading from areas where action is not being taken.
Image: Property. (New Designs for Growth, 2008)

16. Images: Genetic Researchers (Govt. of S.A. Biosecurity2013)
Based upon found evidence,
rabbits will continue developing resistance to introduced viruses.
Researchers must continue to
develop new biological control systems
or alternate control methods to ensure future sustainability.

17. NSW Local Land Services Act (2013) states;
“All land managers in NSW, whether on
public or private land,
have an obligation to
control declared pest species on their land”.
(New South Wales Government Local Land Services, 2014)
Local Council and Government
are responsible for public land only.
Call to action…
Our community must work together.
Images: “Elmer Fudd” (Photobucket, 2014)

18. Government strategies aim
to increase community support.
We can assist by;
• Reporting increased rabbit or pest animal activity to Local Land Service
Offices.
• Obtaining advice, newsletters, purchase baits, attend field days and join
group control programs with the Local Land Services Office.
Image: Community (Local Land Services Northern Tablelands, 2014)

19. • Attend a Local Land Services Office landowner chemical application training
course to obtain five-year accreditation for the use of chemicals 1080 and
pindone baits on your property.
• Inform friends, family and neighbours of the Government’s plans and website
and their responsibility as a landowner to address pest rabbits.
• Work together with neighbouring properties to formulate coordinated plans
for rabbit removal.
Image: “Local Land Services “ (NSW Govt. 2014)

20. • Support Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce’s plan to release “a
new strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (calicivirus) from South
Korea within two years” delivering “strengthened RHDV strains from about
2015 to 2030, followed by any new bio-control agents available” (Austin, 2014,
par.1 & 11).
• Support Government requests for funding to assist Australian Agriculture.
Image: “Barnaby Joyce“ (The Australian, 2011)Image: “Funding Agriculture’s Future“ (Aust. Farm Institute, 2014)

21. Links to the Australian Curriculum (ACARA, 2014)
This aspect is prominent in the inquiry findings, as the Australian Government have
evaluated environmental and economic success of managing rabbit-outbreaks in past
practices and as a result, assess global scientific developments and developed a plan to
release “a new strengthened strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (calicivirus) from
South Korea within two years, with the virus to be released from 2015 to 2030, followed
by any new bio-control agents available” (Austin, 2014, par.1;par.11).

22. Reflection What advice would you give to students taking IATW next year?
• Spend time and thought when selecting your topic as it forms the
basis of study for the entire unit. Select a topic of interest or relative
to you or your local area.
• Prior to deciding on your topic, draft a mindmap of ideas and google
references to ensure valid and current information are available.
Familiarise yourself with the Australian Curriculum Cross-curricular
priorities (Sustainability) and Science prior to commencing with your
topic, to have a clear vision of how your topic will match with
learning outcomes.
• Become familiar with the requirements of all assessment tasks prior
to selecting your topic to ensure this is the path you wish to take.
• Enjoy the self-directed learning journey!
Image:”Rabbit Reflection”
(Pininterest, 2014)

23. Reference List
ABC Science (2009) Australia’s Battle with the Bunny. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/04/08/2538860.htm
Austin, N. (2014) Barnaby Joyce plans new anti-rabbit virus to control feral pest : Courier Mail March 30, 2014. Retrieved from
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/barnaby-joyce-plans-new-antirabbit-virus-to-control-feral-pest/story-fnii5yv5-
1226869229428?nk=5a5193c23b1431a7a4f1cbcb2b057a50
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority: ACARA (2014) Australian Curriculum. Retrieved from
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
Commonwealth of Australia (2014) Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. Retrieved from http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-
health/pihc/intergovernmental-agreement-on-biosecurity.
Drollette, D. (1996) Australia fends off critic to plan to eradicate rabbits. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencemag.org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/search?volume=272&submit=yes&firstpage=191
Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (2014) Feral Focus. Retrieved from http://www.feralfocus.org.au/units/index.html
NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (2011) Environmental Issues: Rabbits Facts Sheet. Retrieved from
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/pestsweeds/RabbitFactsheet.htm
NSW Department of Primary Industries (2013) NSW Biosecurity Strategy 2013-2021. Retrieved from
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/467699/NSW-biosecurity-strategy-2013-2021.pdf
New South Wales Government: Local Land Services (2014) Pest Control. Retrieved from http://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-control
Rabbitscan (2014) Ethical Issues. Retrieved from http://www.rabbitscan.net.au/ethical-issues/
Saunders, G., Cooke, B., McColl, K., Shine, R., & Peacock, T. (2009) Modern approaches for the biological control of vertebrate pests: An Australian
perspective. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/science/article/pii/S1049964409001753
Shoalhaven City Council (2014) Rabbit Control. Retrieved from http://shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Pestmanagement/Rabbitcontrol.aspx

24. Image Reference List
Al-Haq (2014) Ten Years. Retrieved from http://www.alhaq.org/10yrs/
Australian Farm Institute (2014) Funding Agriculture’s Future. Retrieved from http://www.farminstitute.org.au/news-and-events/upcoming-
events/FAF2014/Funding%20Agriculture%20Future%202014.html
Darling Downs - Moreton Rabbit Board (2014) Rabbit Damage. Retrieved from http://www.ddmrb.org.au/images/DDMRB%20-
%20Rabbit%20Damage.JPG
Getty Images (2013) Fox. Retrieved from http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/fox-kills-pet-dogs-housing-2141800
Government of South Australia Biosecurity (2013) Genetic Researcher. Retrieved from
http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecuritysa/nrm_biosecurity/pest_animal/pest_animal_programs/european_rabbits
Local Land Services Northern Tablelands (2014) Community. Retrieved from http://northerntablelands.lls.nsw.gov.au/
Morrison (2012) Fox & Rabbit. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2239879/Rough-justice-Determined-stoat-kills-rabbit-
twice-size-20-minute-fight-fox-wander-steal-meal.html
New Designs for Growth (2008) Property. Retrieved from
http://www.newdesignsforgrowth.com/pages/guidebook/residential/lowdensityresidential/landdivision.html
NSW Government (2014) Local Land Services. Retrieved from http://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/
Photobucket (2014) “Elmer Fudd”. Retrieved from http://s360.photobucket.com/user/rjw-pictures/media/ElmerFudd.jpg.html
/

25. Image Reference List
Pininterest (2014) Rabbit Reflection. Retrieved from http://www.pinterest.com/vinpauld/rabbits-hares-and-bunnies
The Advertiser (2014) Rabbit. Retrieved from http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/barnaby-joyce-plans-new-antirabbit-virus-
to-control-feral-pest/story-fni6uo1m-1226869229428?nk=5a5193c23b1431a7a4f1cbcb2b057a50
The Advertiser (2014) Rabbit Plague. Retrieved from http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/barnaby-joyce-plans-new-antirabbit-
virus-to-control-feral-pest/story-fni6uo1m-1226869229428?nk=5a5193c23b1431a7a4f1cbcb2b057a50
The Australian (2011) Barnaby Joyce. Retrieved from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/food-for-thought-bob-brown-attacks-
china-land-grab/story-fn59niix-1226084686497?nk=5a5193c23b1431a7a4f1cbcb2b057a50
The Australian (2012) Rabbitshooting. Retrieved from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/rabbits-return-catches-science-on-
the-hop/story-e6frg8y6-1226254738006
The Farmstore (2013) BunnyBait. Retrieved from http://www.thefarmstore.com.au/bunny-bait-pindone-oat-bait-10kg
Top 10 of Anything and Everything (2014) Rabbit Balance. Retrieved from http://theverybesttop10.com/things-balanced-on-rabbits-heads/
University of Otago (2014) RHDV Retrieved from http://micro.otago.ac.nz/research/research-labs/ward-lab-research
Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (2014)Rabbit Warren & Rabbit. Retrieved from http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/rabbits.html
Audio Reference List
Flanagan & Allen: Run Rabbit Run