Genetics track Australia's rabbit plague back to two dozen animals brought from England for hunting.
abc.net.au/news/australias-rabbit-invasion-traced-to-1869/101361466Australia's rabbit invasion began with just 24 animals brought from England in 1869, a new study has confirmed.It began with 24 wild rabbits from England, researchers confirmed
Researchers used historical and genetic data to track the animals back to their importer, Thomas Austin, who had shipped the wild rabbits to hunt.according to the studyThe authors refer to the species' introduction as "one of the most iconic and devastating biological invasions in recorded history". One of the study's co-authors, Mike Letnic of the University of New South Wales, said earlier domestic populations brought over for their meat and fur had not got the same foothold.
"When those wild rabbits arrived in Australia, they're the rabbits that survived the long voyage from England.
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