Rabbits As Pets In Australia

Rabbits are social and curious animals who can make fantastic pets.

Rabbits as pets in australia. Rabbits are australia s most destructive agricultural and environmental introduced animal pest costing up to 1 billion annually. Children often refer to them affectionately as bunnies. They cause severe land degradation and soil erosion and threaten the survival of many rare and endangered native species. The lagamorph family includes all rabbits including cottontails and the closely related hare.

Rabbits are a popular pet in australia and a much loved addition to any family. It is important that you understand all the requirements for caring for a rabbit before you buy one. Alfred duke of edinburgh rabbit shooting at barwon park victoria in the 1860s rabbits were first introduced to australia by the first fleet in 1788. They were bred as food animals probably in cages.

But contrary to popular belief they are not an easy first pet for a child. The restrictions aren t widespread but here is the run down of what regulations exist where. The wild rabbit is now considered to be a pest in australia and in states such as queensland keeping a rabbit as a domestic pet is illegal although rabbits may be kept as pets in new south wales and victoria. Rabbits make great pets.

Rabbits like all animals have specific needs when it comes to their housing handling food and providing enough interesting and stimulating activities for them to do. For children 8 years and older an adult should be the primary carer of the rabbits. Domestic rabbits and european wild rabbits are the same species and readily interbreed. Unfortunately not every part of australia sees rabbits as pets rather they view them as pests that are not permitted to be kept.

Home rodents as pets rabbits rabbits are small rodent like mammals called lagamorphs are found either natively or introduced on all continents and many small islands around the world. It is the owner s responsibility to read these guidelines and ensure that all requirements are met. An adult 18 years or older must be the primary carer of your rabbit. It should be recognised that rabbits are not suitable pets for children under 8 years of age.

Burrow through this website to discover how objects from the national museum s collections reveal the diverse relationships that have developed in australia between rabbits people and places. They are easy to look after and make a wonderful first pet for a child. Australians have understood rabbits in many different ways as pests pets and a filling for pies. Some breeds of rabbits particularly the longer haired rabbits may require daily grooming.