Eradication of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from Cabbage Tree Island, NSW, Australia, to protect the breeding habitat of Gould's petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera)

The endangered Gould's petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera) nests, alm ost exclusively, in rainforest on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales, Aus tralia. Since their introduction in 1906, European rabbits (Oryctolagus cun iculus) have greatly changed the structure of the rainforest, threatening i ts existence and that of the petreI. Rabbits were eradicated by sequential epizootics of myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), and a sing le application of cereal-based bait (Talon(R) 20P) containing the anticoagu lant brodifacoum. The effectiveness of these mortality agents was evaluated by monitoring 70 telemetered rabbits, half of which were vaccinated agains t RHD. A natural epizootic of myxomatosis from May to July 1997 reduced the rabbit population from about 250 to 100. RHD, released in August 1997, red uced the population by a further 55%, the rabbits dying within 4-23 days. N o survivors tested positive to RHD antibodies. Aerial baiting in September 1997 eradicated all remaining rabbits within 13 days. Intensive monitoring over the next 6 months detected no survivors. Non-target deaths included tw o buff-banded rails (Gallirallus philippensis) and one pied currawong (Stre pera graculina). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.