Why aren't Australians fond of rabbits?

Many Australians like rabbits as pets, but one would hope that the majority of Australians recognise that the wild rabbit, introduced to Australia, is a pest.

The European rabbit has caused an ecological disaster in Australia. Rabbits eat the native vegetation which is the primary food source of Australian native animals. This loss of native food sources has led to the extinction of many Australian mammal species. Rabbits breed much faster than Australia's native animals, so competition for food sources is high. The rabbit has had a large impact on the bilby for another reason as well. Rabbits dig burrows which cause problems for the bilby's habitat, as they tend to cause the bilbies to be caved in.

Further, rabbits tend to eat vegetation right down to the roots, meaning that the plant cannot regrow, and revegetation does not occur. This can certainly lead to indigenous plant species being wiped out, along with the fauna. And because rabbits eat vegetation down to the roots, this means there are fewer low-growing shrubs and grasses to prevent erosion from wind and rain. This in turn leads to increased desertification.

Rabbits have caused huge problems for Australia's agricultural industry, wiping out entire crops. They also eat the food that livestock require, so this impacts on the health of sheep and cattle, especially in more arid areas.