5 May 2006

Rabbit control: are the latest measures working?

In a bid to control the increasing population of wild rabbits in Australia, Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease was introduced in 1995. While it has been extremely effective in reducing rabbit abundance in drier parts of the continent, recent evidence suggests that rabbits may be regaining their numbers.

University of Canberra and Invasive Animals CRC researcher, Dr Brian Cooke will present a paper on Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease and genetic resistance to RHD on Tuesday May 9 at University of Canberra.

"There have been clear economic and ecological benefits [to RHD] and much has been learned of the epidemiology of the disease. However, previous experience with myxomatosis, also introduced to control rabbits, suggests that rabbits will develop some degree of genetic resistance to RHD and the virus will also change in virulence," Dr Cooke said.

Dr Cooke said that changes in the virus genome are obvious, although the significance of these changes remain unclear.

He will begin a research project in July, funded by Australian Wool Innovation, to test rabbits for genetic resistance to RHD and will discuss the project along with other possibilities for future research.

The seminar is part of the Institute for Applied Ecology seminar series

Public Seminar:               Dr Brian Cooke, IAE/IACRC "Has rabbit haemorrhagic disease solved the rabbit problem?"

Date:                          Tuesday, 9 May 2006

Time:                          3.30pm to 4.30pm

Location:                   Room 11, Level B, Building 6, University of Canberra

Admission:               Free. All welcome.

Presenter Background

Dr Brian Cooke graduated in Science at Melbourne University in 1966 and subsequently obtained his MSc and PhD from the Zoology Department, Adelaide University. He has worked on the ecology and control of wild rabbits with the Animal and Plant Control Commission, South Australia, on many projects including the introduction of Spanish rabbit fleas as vectors of myxomatosis in arid inland Australia. This involved two years working in Europe mainly with Estacion Biologica de Donana, Seville.

Underlying much of the work is a keen interest in conservation. For example, Brian's work has shown that in the Coorong National Park, South Australia, rabbit control leads to a substantial increase in native grasses and subsequently the numbers of Common Wombats.

This interest in control of introduced animals for conservation purposes has also led to work in Galapagos with the Charles Darwin Foundation as well as involvement in research on the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen Islands where rabbits have almost completely destroyed the original vegetation.

Brian Cooke has been contracted by Australian Wool Innovations to manage rabbit control projects designed to put the wool and meat industries in the best possible strategic position in terms of future rabbit management by supporting RHD and myxomatosis or by implementing other rabbit control measures.

UC Communications

Gaye Morrison
T: 02 6201 5855
M: 0409 470 755

Kaddie Pass
T: 02 6201 2681

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Last Updated on August 1, 2005