The National Biosecurity Committee has announced that the national release of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV1) K5 is now likely to take place in Spring 2016 or Autumn 2017 pending outcomes of approvals, consultation and further scientific advice.
Rabbits have major impacts on farming businesses and the environment. A draft report released by the Department of the Environment in late 2015 found that rabbits are Australia’s worst threat to biodiversity, affecting 304 nationally threatened plant and animal species.
Rabbits also decrease agricultural productivity in excess of $200 million a year.
In a statement released this week, the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre said rabbit numbers were increasing and an improved biological control agent in conjunction with a community-led response, using best practice rabbit management principles, was a unique opportunity to mitigate damage.
“The national release of the new naturally occurring strain of RHDV1 K5 is part of a 20 year national bio-control plan to further control rabbits. The Invasive Animals CRC rabbit scientific committee are confident that RHDV1 K5 is safe, humane, has a wide reach and will reduce the number of feral rabbits in Australia,” the statement reads.
The research team are still accepting online Expressions of Interests (EOIs) from landowners and managers wanting to be involved in the release.
For more information visit pestsmart.org.au/connect/
