Macquarie Island Dogs

Between Antarctica and New Zealand is Macquarie Island.  When this place, so special to biologists and the like was over run with rabbits the solution involved some pretty special dogs.

 Rabbits were introduced to the island back in the 1800’s when seal hunters needed to supply themselves a source of meat.  Numbers exploded before today and a grand attempt was made at wiping them out in the late 70’s using myxomatosis but numbers had climbed back up there by 2008. 

 Whilst the majority of rabbit numbers were wiped out first with bait dropped from helicopters, author and dog trainer Steve Austin had been employed to train a special group of dogs to complete the task. The dogs needed to be able to detect the presence of a rabbit but without touching the rabbit.  The dogs were also not allowed to come within 10 metres of native wildlife on the island.  Steve set about getting the dogs ready and he was also responsible for preparing a group of dog trainers.  All attended a training camp with him and handlers were carefully matched with their dogs as they were going to spend a lot of time together. 

 Every last rabbit needed to found as a breeding pair is capable of producing  350,000 relatives within a five year period.  By 2014 their mission was complete.  Thanks to Steve, his dogs and a very large team of dedicated people, this World Heritage area is now free from bunnies and native wildlife are no longer competing with an introduced species for food and space.

 

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)