Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were first introduced to Australia in the 18th century with the First Fleet, and later became widespread, because of Thomas Austin. [1] Such wild rabbit populations are a serious mammalian pest and invasive species in Australia causing millions of dollars' worth of damage to crops.
While other settlers praised his efforts at the time, he has borne the brunt of blame for introducing this pest to Australia. [6] In 2022, a study of genomic data confirmed Australia's feral rabbit population was entirely descended from the rabbits introduced by Austin. [7] [8]
Rabbits were introduced to Australia with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. [2] A population of 24 rabbits were released near Geelong in 1859 to be hunted for sport. The native quolls predated upon rabbits [3] and prior to 1870, many accounts recorded quolls impeding their establishment on the mainland while island colonies thrived. [4]
The European rabbit was introduced and established a self-sustaining population in 1971 after a group of school children released 8 rabbits on the island. [82] [83] The European rabbit has been introduced as an exotic species into several environments, often with harmful results to vegetation and local wildlife, making it an invasive species.
Rabbits are often posited by scholars as symbols of fertility, [176] sexuality and spring, though they have been variously interpreted throughout history. [177] Up until the end of the 18th century, it was widely believed that rabbits and hares were hermaphrodites, contributing to a possible view of rabbits as "sexually aberrant". [178]
Female rabbits can have one to seven litters of one to twelve young, called kits, in a year; however, they average three to four litters per year, and the average number of kits is five. [15] In the southern states of the United States, female eastern cottontails have more litters per year (up to seven) but fewer young per litter.
[2]: 120 Rabbit breeds were developed by individuals, cooperatives, and by national breeding centers. To meet various production goals, rabbits were exported around the world. One of the most notable import events was the introduction of the Belgian Hare breed of rabbit from Europe to the United States, beginning in 1888.
This list of introduced mammal species includes all the species of mammal introduced to an area without regard to that territory being or not being their native area of occupation or the success of that re-introduction or introduction to the area. This practice has been harmful in many areas, although some introductions are made with the aim of ...