Why the humble rabbit might be Australia’s worst introduced species

Key points

• In 1859, pastoralist Thomas Austin released around two dozen wild and domestic rabbits on his estate near Geelong. The animals spread across the continent and grew to plague proportions, damaging pastures and threatening more than 300 native species.
• Biocontrol viruses, first released by CSIRO scientists in the 1950s, have helped cut numbers, but resistance has developed. Sharp rises in rabbit numbers have recently been reported.
• Researchers are now developing new virus variants and studying longer-term options, with control methods combined for lasting results.