How 13 rabbits released in 1859 created Australia’s worst ecological crisis

When European rabbits arrived in Australia in the 19th century, they were brought in as familiar game animals for hunting rather than as a threat to the environment. Within decades, however, their population exploded across the continent. With few natural predators and the ability to adapt to a wide range of landscapes, rabbits spread from farmland to forests, grasslands and dry inland regions. Their growing numbers began to put pressure on native plants, agricultural land and fragile ecosystems. What started with a small release of imported animals became one of Australia’s most challenging invasive species problems, forcing scientists and governments to search for ways to limit their impact.How 13 rabbits released for hunting became Australia’s biggest invasive species problemAs reported by National Geographic, the story began in 1859 when Thomas Austin, a wealthy landowner in Victoria, imported European wild rabbits for hunting.