A NEW weapon will be unleashed in the war on wild rabbits - Australia’s single worst, most widespread, destructive and costly environmental and agricultural vertebrate pest animal.
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Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, and Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair, announced the release of RHDV1 K5 would take place at more than 600 sites across Australia. Mr Joyce said rabbits cause more than $200 million in lost agricultural production every year.
"Rabbits are a significant threat to biodiversity, affecting 304 nationally threatened plant and animal species," Mr Joyce said.
"Prior to the introduction of the first biological control agent in 1950 the impacts of rabbits were devastating, leading to the abandonment of some farms. Together, the combination of myxoma virus and calicivirus currently limit wild rabbit populations to about 15 per cent of their potential numbers, but immunity and resistance have again become an issue.”
Mr Blair warned pet owners to vaccinate rabbits and consult a vet on how to protect their rabbits. He said rabbits were known for their formidable reproduction powers – two rabbits could multiply to 200 rabbits in just two years.
