Rabbits

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of Australia’s most widespread and destructive invasive pest species. Introduced in the 1850s for hunting and food, rabbits rapidly expanded across the continent, reaching plague proportions in less than 50 years. Today, they are found in almost every part of mainland Australia, except for the wettest tropics, the driest deserts, and fenced or island refuges. Declared a pest early in their spread, rabbits have proven highly adaptable and thrive in diverse environments, particularly where the land has been cleared or disturbed.

Rabbit populations are especially high in agricultural zones, where they compete directly with livestock for pasture and undermine land productivity. Their presence contributes to severe soil erosion and the collapse of native vegetation, threatening the habitats of many native plant and animal species. Rabbits are a key driver of biodiversity loss, having contributed to the decline of numerous threatened species by overgrazing and preventing natural regeneration.

In farming, rabbits inflict significant economic damage by reducing crop yields, damaging infrastructure such as fences and irrigation systems, and causing costly land degradation. Their burrowing behaviour destabilises the ground, leading to injuries in livestock and damage to vehicles. Despite biological controls like myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease, populations often rebound, requiring ongoing management efforts. Rabbits also act as hosts for parasites and diseases, posing additional risks to livestock and, in some cases, to human health.