New Zealand plans to release rabbit-killing virus

New Zealand is planning to release a deadly virus in an effort to curb its out-of-control wild rabbit population. The virus, RHDV1 K5 (K5), is expected to be released at 100 sites in Otago, a region in the south of the country’s South island.

The virus will be unleashed in Otago in late March or April, as part of nation-wide effort aims to decrease the rabbit population by 40%, says The New Zealand Herald. Its effectiveness will then be studied prior to a planned nationwide roll-out.

In a statement yesterday, the Otago Regional Council said that K5 would be released at 100 sites across the region at the same time to ensure the virus had “maximum impact.”

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Rabbits were first brought to New Zealand in the 1830s and “have long created problems for farmers,” the BBC reports.

Rabbits cost an average of $50 million New Zealand dollars (£18.7m) in lost production and more than NZ $25m in pest control every year, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

Scott MacLean, regional council environmental monitoring and operations director, said this virus could greatly benefit the region. “Rabbits are the number one pest in Otago,” he said. “Ten rabbits can eat as much grass as one sheep. They are a threat to our biodiversity, not to mention the soil degradation and loss of soil caused by rabbit holes and warrens.”