DEATH TO RABBITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1937, Page 10

DEATH TO RABBITS

TESTING A VIRUS

EXTERMINATION IN VIEW

(From "The Post's" Renresentatlve) SYDNEY, September 2,

An experiment is about to begin on a large and practical scale in the eradication of rabbits, the greatest pest of Australian pastoralists. Laboratory tests have already been made with a virus to spread fatal disease among the rabbits. The next tests will be in the Ninety acres on Wardang Island, off the South Australian coast, have been set aside for the purpose, and this area will be enclosed by a double fence. Dr. L B Bull is in charge of the experiments on behalf of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. The virus was discovered by an Australian, Sir Charles Martin, now at Cambridge Dr Bull,' immediately before leaving for the island, said that the rabbits would be allowed six or eight months to breed in the enclosure. Then about thirty would be infected with a deadly virus dropped in the eyes of the animals, and they would be liberated in different parts of the enclosure. The disease would take about a week to germinate, and it would be spread by sneezing, coughing, and a discharge from eyes and nose, of the animals. It was estimated that in less than three months all the rabbits would be wiped out. An officer would be appointed to reside on the island and make daily observations. "An amazing thing about the disease is its specificity," added Dr. Bull. It will not affect any other type of rabbit but the European species, which is the Wnd in Australia. Even a hare will not be affected." , If this experiment proves successful it will be recommended to the State Governments. Dr. Bull favours an inter-State organisation to control the rabbit extermination campaign if the virus scheme is to be adopted. "Rabbits do not recognise State boundaries, he said. .