What seemed like an innocent Christmas gift of 24 English rabbits in 1859 would go on to become Australia’s “most devastating biological invasion,” according to a new study published by the ...

Over the next 70 years, about 90 separate rabbit introductions occurred in Australia. It wasn’t until after Austin received his rabbits, however, that the creatures started taking over.

A genomic analysis has helped to show that Australia’s invasive rabbit population probably originated from a shipment of two dozen wild English rabbits that arrived near Melbourne on Christmas ...

The myxoma virus was introduced to control the population of rabbits in Australia in 1950, initiating an evolutionary arms race between the virus and the rabbit's immune system.

Australia has long waged war on wild rabbits and their numbers are increasing in the act. ... Scientific breakthrough to control rabbit populations throughout Australia. Posted: 15 June 2025 ...

For many virologists, the best example of this unpredictability is a pathogen that has been ravaging rabbits in Australia for the past 72 years: the myxoma virus.

Citation: Crocs love feral pigs and quolls have a taste for rabbit—but it doesn't solve Australia's invasive species problem (2024, January 2) ...