Image: “Rabbit” (The Advertiser, 2014)

Janie Hamilton (15221809)

EDC171: Inquiring about the World; Assessment 2b

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).

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)

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)

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)

However, no action results in

rabbit plagues destroying farmland

with overgrazing,

threatening food supplies and the economy.

Image: “Rabbit Plague” (The Advertiser, 2014)

Therefore, it is essential we find a

balanced solution

to ensure

future sustainability.

Images: “Rabbit Balance” (Top 10 of Anything and Everything, 2014)

* 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?

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).

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)

Alternate control methods may take up to

ten years to plan and implement (Saunders, et.al., 2010).

Image: Ten Years (Al-Haq, 2014)

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).

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)

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)

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)

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.

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)

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)

• 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)

• 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)

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).

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)

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

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

/

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