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 Australias 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 Australias 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 Governments 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 Joyces 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 Agricultures 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) Australias 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 Agricultures 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