Rabbits running rampant: Australia overrun by invasive species

Cover image: FOCUS © FRANCE 24
Issued on: 24/06/2026

05:55 min

In much of the world, rabbits are seen as harmless, fluffy pets. But in Australia, they’re an economic and environmental disaster. Introduced for sport hunting by British settlers in the mid-19th century, rabbits faced no natural predators. As a result, their population exploded across the continent within decades. Despite mass eradication campaigns, hundreds of millions of rabbits remain today, devastating the landscape and tormenting Australian farmers. FRANCE 24’s Grégory Plesse and Quentin Théron report

BY:
Gregory Plesse
Richelle HARRISON PLESSE