RABBIT KILLING

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1937, Page 8

RABBIT KILLING

FIELD TESTS WITH VIRUS SYDNEY, Sept. 2. An experiment is about to begin on a large and practical scale in the eradication of rabbits, Australian pastoralists’ greatest pest. Laboratory tests have already been made with the employment of a virus to spread fatal disease among the rabbits. The next tests will be in the field. Ninety acres on Wardang Island, off the South Australian coast, 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 cm behalf of the Council lor. Scientific and Industrial Research. Ihe virus was discovered by an Australian, Sir Charles Martin, now at Cambridge University. Dr Bull, immediately before leaving for the island, said that the rabbits would be allowed six or eight month? to breed in the enclosure. Then about 30 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 bj 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 kind in Australia. Gven a hare will not be affected. If this experiment proves successful it will be recommended to the State Governments. Dr Bull favours an in-ter-State organisation to control the rabbit extermination campaign if the virus scheme is to lie adopted. ‘ ‘RaUbits do not recognise State boundaries, he said.