Rabbits have been a real scourge in New Zealand since their introduction in the 1800s. They have multiplied very quickly and are now considered a veritable plague throughout the country.
Since that time, the Easter weekend has traditionally been reserved for hunting rabbits and other vermin. During this period, several teams were formed and a ranking was even held to find out which team was the most efficient.
These massive removals could go up to 12,000 rabbits, which would be very far from dealing a real blow to the local populations counted which go in certain cases up to 16 rabbits per square kilometer.
The damage caused by rabbits in crops, meadows, gardens or parks is such that the authorities estimate their cost at more than 40 million euros, including the actions taken to combat this pest.
In recent years, nothing has been in favor of hunters who have been forced to abandon their traditional rabbit hunt following the health crisis, the increased risk of fires but also because of the pressure exerted by animalists.
Meanwhile, the number of rabbits explodes and the authorities try to get permission to use RHDV, the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, to spread it to the areas most affected by the invasion.
A complex decision to make for the New Zealand government, which has already created a rabbit eradication cell and hired full-time people to manage the actions carried out.
Case to follow.
