Rabbits

 Introduction to Australia

Rabbits were first introduced to Australia by the First Fleet in 1788, but the surge in population appears to have originated with the release of 24 wild rabbits by Thomas Austin on his property, Barwon Park (near Winchelsea, Victoria). While living in England, Austin, was a keen hunter and regularly dedicated his weekends to rabbit shooting. Upon arriving in Australia, which had no native rabbit population, Austin asked his nephew in England to send him 24 grey rabbits, five hares, 72 partridges and some sparrows so that he could continue his hobby in Australia by creating a local population of the species. In October 1859 Austin released his newly arrived hunting stock on to his property. So after many other regional farms also released rabbits into the wild. At the time Austin stated: "The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting."

Rabbits are extremely prolific breeders and spread rapidly across the southern parts of Australia. With mild winters, rabbits were able to breed the entire year. With widespread farming, areas that may have been desert, scrub, or woodlands were instead turned into vast areas with low vegetations, creating ideal habitat for rabbits. Within ten years of the 1859 introduction, the original 24 rabbits had multiplied so much that two million could be shot or trapped annually without having any noticeable effect on the population.

It was the fastest spread ever recorded of any mammal anywhere in the world. Today rabbits are entrenched in the southern and central areas of the country, with scattered populations in the northern deserts.