Review of the management of feral animals and their impact on ...

was completed it was <strong>the</strong> longest fence in <strong>the</strong> world, stretching from Starvation Boat
Harbour, just west <strong>of</strong> Esperance in <strong>the</strong> south, to Wallal on <strong>the</strong> 80 Mile Beach in <strong>the</strong>
north-west. However, even before completion, <strong>the</strong> rabbits were past <strong>the</strong> fence <strong>and</strong>
work had begun on Fences No.2 <strong>and</strong> 3. By
1908 <strong>the</strong> three fences were complete, over
3,000km <strong>of</strong> fence line in total. Despite <strong>the</strong>
best efforts to stop <strong>the</strong> rabbits at <strong>the</strong> barrier
fence, all was to fail. Erosion under <strong>the</strong>
fences, holes in <strong>the</strong> wire <strong>and</strong> gates left open
allowed rabbits to continue <strong>the</strong>ir movement
west into <strong>the</strong> fertile agricultural areas.
Queensl<strong>and</strong> also attempted barrier fencing
along <strong>the</strong> NSW border, however this also
proved unsuccessful for similar reasons.
The following extract from an article by
Mike Sydell (2004) provides an insight into
<strong>the</strong> costs, effectiveness <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> design
requirements <strong>of</strong> rabbit-pro<strong>of</strong> fencing for
conservation areas.
“After enclosing 60 square kilometres <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong>
with what was labelled rabbit-pro<strong>of</strong> fencing,
volunteers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arid Recovery project from
<strong>the</strong> local Roxby Downs community set about
eradicating <strong>the</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> contained within
it. Rabbits proved <strong>the</strong> most elusive, although
thous<strong>and</strong>s were eliminated <strong>and</strong> warrens
destroyed. Eventually <strong>the</strong> rabbits were
confined to discrete pockets <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> were exterminated one by one. Finally, one
last rabbit – nicknamed Bunston – was left. The capture <strong>of</strong> this barren female rabbit
led to major celebrations. But a month later, more rabbit tracks were found. How
could this be, with <strong>the</strong> fencing seemingly secure? One day, John Read <strong>and</strong> a colleague
found a kitten rabbit on its own within <strong>the</strong> fence. They took it to <strong>the</strong> rabbit-pro<strong>of</strong>
fence, <strong>and</strong> it slipped right through <strong>and</strong> back, performing <strong>the</strong> trick several times. A few
days later a much larger young rabbit, <strong>of</strong> about 450 grams, performed <strong>the</strong> same casual
exercise, this time caught on video. The 40-millimetre mesh fence, erected at a cost <strong>of</strong>
$200,000 by volunteer fencers, was not rabbit-pro<strong>of</strong> after all. The only solution was a
specially made 30-millimetre mesh fence. After it was erected, <strong>the</strong> rabbits were finally
exterminated.”
Whilst fences have proved unsuccessful in <strong>the</strong> west, some success has been achieved
in <strong>the</strong> east. When rabbits first reached Queensl<strong>and</strong> in <strong>the</strong> 1880s from <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn
states, a fence was quickly constructed along <strong>the</strong> border in an attempt to keep <strong>the</strong>m
out. Unfortunately, <strong>the</strong> rabbits had already invaded some districts before <strong>the</strong> fence
was complete<strong>and</strong> some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> invaded districts had inadequate financial <strong>and</strong> technical
resources to cope with <strong>the</strong> problem. In 1964 <strong>the</strong> last remaining rabbit boards merged
to form <strong>the</strong> Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board which now manages <strong>the</strong> fence. The
fence is now 555 km long <strong>and</strong> stretches from Lamington National Park in <strong>the</strong> east, to
Goombi in <strong>the</strong> south-west where it connects to <strong>the</strong> Wild Dog Barrier Fence. It protects
about 28 000 km² within sou<strong>the</strong>rn Queensl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> is patrolled <strong>and</strong> maitained weekly
to keep it in rabbit-pro<strong>of</strong> condition. The local governments in <strong>the</strong> Board area fund its
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