The Rabbit Trouble

Can rabbits be such a menace to cause enormous damage? Well, there was a time when the rabbits could be found in abundance in Australia and New Zealand. It was in 18th century when about three pairs of rabbits were first turned out near Invercargill and soon they spread to both the neighbouring countries. This was because they breed so fast, so quickly that they multiplied so rapidly and soon became a headache, a serious problem for the two nations. They ate almost any vegetable. They multiplied over the years and spread over most of the continent and caused a tremendous amount of damage.

A female rabbit when six months old produces four to eight litters of five to eight young ones in a year. They are blind, helpless and nearly naked at birth but in about two weeks time are able to run and in one month time can fend for themselves. By six weeks time they are mature enough to mate and breed.

It is amazing to note that a pair of rabbits, given ideal conditions, could in about three years time can have approximately 13,718,000 descendants, isn’t it amazing!

So, most costly attempts were made to control the menace of rabbit population which was ever increasing in Australia till in early 1950s, an anti rabbit viral disease called ‘myxamatosis was introduced. This virus was more of a parasite of rabbit and was introduced through the mosquitoe which acted as a vector and the rabbit flea. The virus was so lethal that more than 80% of the rabbit population was wiped out within three years.

The project met with success only in areas with sufficient water to serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which transmit the virus. However the disease spread to Europe where it killed rabbits in Britain, Belgium and france, where the animal was commercially useful.

However by 1960s a virus resistant strain of rabbits emerged. These rabbits were resistant to the disease and were again becoming a serious pest.

Rabbits are however are bred as pets, for genetic studies, for laboratory experimentation, and for their meat and furs. Domestic rabbits furs are still sold under the trade names of arctic seal, clipped seal, and lapin.

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