Letter written by John Pitcher, Adelaide, to Josiah Pitcher, Launceston, 4 November 1838. Thanks him for gifts of vines, and says the 'Rabbits....are doing well'.

In Australia the introduced rabbit has caused widespread devastation, denuding the land of vegetation and digging large warrens that undermine the landscape. They have out-competed many native species. Control measures have included hunting, trapping and poisoning, and in the 20th century the release of the myxamatosis virus and calicivirus, which have had some effect in controlling the population.

Animals and plants introduced to Australia since white settlement have had a dramatic effect on South Australia's landscape and native flora and fauna. Animals such as cats, rabbits, foxes, sparrows and blackbirds were introduced as a reminder of life 'at home' in Britain. Others like camels, horses and donkeys were introduced as working animals but as times changed, and they were replaced by machines, they were often set free and have continued to breed in large numbers. Other domesticated animals such as cattle and sheep are the mainstay of the meat and wool industry but past over-population by these animals has had a detrimental effect upon the land.

Image is from G.F. Angas' South Australia illustrated B 15279/26.

Pitcher, John

Pitcher, Josiah

Rolls, Eric C. They all ran wild : the story of pests on the land in Australia, London : Angus & Robertson, 1977

Coman, Brian J., Tooth and nail: the story of the rabbit in Australia Melbourne: Text Publishing, 1999

SA Memory; Water, land, sky - Natural environment of South Australia Land: Introduced species

Distribution of Key Terrestrial Pest Animals : Department for Environment and Heritage website

Feral Animals in Australia : Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources website