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White Australians Attitudes to the Environment
of rabbits and Thomas Austin Brown of Barwon Park near Geelong also developed a name for himself as the man who introduced the rabbit. However during this period the pest appeared to be under control (Bolton, 90).
The control over this species quickly depleted and the introduction of this exotic species soon became out of control. The rabbit is a prime example of the careless introduction of an exotic species, as consideration was not taken in regards to the impact that the species may have on the environment. The rabbit ran wild, eating crops and clearing farmlands due to their destruction. In 1877 four stations carrying approximately 125 000 sheep was abandoned due to rabbit destruction to the properties, and many more sations were to follow (Bolton 90). This left baron, unfertile plains to be left to cause major erosion and dust problems.
This species was once regarded as a delicacy, however it quickly turned into a common pest that needed to be eliminated. The desire to kill off the pest caused further introduction of exotic species to act as predators to the rabbit, however not only were these species predators of the rabbit, they were also predators of many native Australian animals.
The attitudes that were taken in regards to the introduction of certain species was careless, economically selfish and destructive. The environmental problems that were caused from the exotic animals became catastrophic and a sever detriment to the Australian environment.
The Australian Government however did notice the problems that many of these exotic plants and species were causing; therefore animal shooting licences and certain exotic species laws were introduced. Unfortunately the attitude of the government was not entirely environmentally moral, as many of these laws were passed to support economic motives only. For example, in 1846 the Legislative Council of Van Diemen¡¯s Land passed an act that proposed to restrain the hunting of Kangaroo by enforcing a licence. Although the protection of native fauna appears to be the motive of this act, it is however not the case. The act was passed to mainly keep in check sheep stealing that was committed by ex-convict kangaroo hunters (Bolton, 55).
Another example was in 1880 when Victoria and New South Wales passed Rabbit Destruction Acts. These acts were put in place to protect farmers, their property and livestock from the destruction that the pest caused. The welfare of the environment was once again no influence to the reinforcement of these acts.
It was easily recognised that human life was becoming the main weapon for the destruction of native species. The slaughter of many native animals occurred on the mainland for the trade of meat, skins and fur. The slaughter of many animals was caused from the destruction of habitat and food resources of animals, soully for the development of human [next page]