Bugs Bunny and the rabbit plague

Bugs Bunny was introduced from Europe in the 19th century, the effect of rabbits on the ecology of Australia has been devastating. Rabbits are suspected of being the most significant known factor in species loss in Australia. The loss of plant species is unknown at this time. Rabbits often kill young trees in orchards, forests and on properties by ringbarking them.

Within ten years of their introduction in 1859, rabbits had become so prevalent that two million could be shot or trapped annually without having any noticeable effect on the population. It was the fastest spread ever recorded of any mammal anywhere in the world. Today rabbits are entrenched in the southern and central areas of the country, with scattered populations in the northern deserts.

Bugs Bunny has feuded with Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Willoughby the Dog, Marvin the Martian, Beaky Buzzard, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tasmanian Devil, Cecil Turtle, Charlie Dog, Witch Hazel, Rocky and Mugsy, Wile E. Coyote, the Crusher, Gremlin, Big Bad Wolf, and now he is taking on Australian scientists from the CSIRO.

Releasing rabbit-borne diseases has proven somewhat successful in controlling the population of rabbits in Australia.
Myxomatosis was deliberately released into the rabbit population, causing it to drop from an estimated 600 million to around 100 million. Genetic resistance in the remaining rabbits allowed the population to recover to 200-300 million by 1991.

To combat this trend, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) developed and accidentally released calicivirus (also known as Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease or RHD) in 1996. The success of the virus was found to be higher in extreme heat and has put a large dent in the current population.

Bugs Bunny will usually try to placate the antagonist and avoid conflict, but when an antagonist pushes him too far, Bugs Bunny may address the audience and invoke his catchphrase "Of course you realize this means war!" before he retaliates, and the retaliation will be devastating.

Rabbit Recipes

In Australia, rabbits are the most serious mammalian pests, an invasive species whose destruction of habitats is responsible for the extinction or major decline of many native animals such as the Western Quoll. Annually, European rabbits cause millions of dollars of damage to crops.



Leporids such as European rabbits and hares are a food meat in Europe, South America, North America, some parts of the Middle East, and China, among other places.

Rabbit is still commonly sold in UK butchers and markets, although not frequently in supermarkets. At farmers markets and the famous Borough Market in London, rabbits will be displayed dead and hanging unbutchered in the traditional style next to braces of pheasant and other small game.

Rabbit meat was once commonly sold in Sydney, Australia, the sellers of which giving the name to the rugby league team the South Sydney Rabbitohs, but quickly became unpopular after the disease myxomatosis was introduced in an attempt to wipe out the feral rabbit population.




Rabbit Stew

1 2kg rabbit
6 small onions, chopped
1 bay leaf
½ cup chopped celery
2 tsp. salt
2 cups diced carrots
3 raw potatoes, cut up
3 tbs. flour
1 tbs. chopped parsley

Clean rabbit and soak in salted water. Drain, disjoint it in pieces for serving and place in a large kettle with onions, bay leaf, celery and salt. Cover with cold water and cook slowly until tender, about two hours. Add chopped carrots and potatoes and continue cooking until these vegetables are done. Smooth flour with a little cold water and add slowly. When thickened, add chopped parsley and serve.


Rabbit Braised in Wine



2 rabbits, cut into serving pieces
Salt and pepper
Flour
2 tbs. olive oil
2 onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 carrots, peeled and sliced
500g. fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 tbs. fresh parsley, minced
¼ tsp. thyme
½ tsp. oregano, rubbed
4 bay leaves
2 cups dry white wine

Preheat oven to 200C. Salt and pepper rabbit and coat with flour.
Place oil, onions, garlic, carrots and mushrooms in large casserole dish.
Place rabbit on top of vegetables. Sprinkle with parsley, thyme and oregano.
Add bay leaves and wine. Cover and bake 1 hour or until rabbit is tender.
Remove bay leaves before serving. Servings: 6-8