14 Jul 2010

Calicivirus to be released in Far North

11:39 am on 14 July 2010

Northland Regional Council plans to release calicivirus in the Far North later this month to tackle rising rabbit numbers.

The council last released the virus in 2006. It successfully reduced the population, but rabbit numbers have since built up again in some areas.

Pest management officer Mike Knight says the virus will be released near urban areas, where methods such as shooting or poison cannot be used.

He says rabbit breeders or pet rabbit owners need to make sure their animals are vaccinated ahead of the controlled release.

The virus is likely to be released in the Ahipara, Taupo Bay and Kerikeri areas from 26 July.

Calicivirus was introduced illegally into New Zealand in 1997 by a group of South Island farmers.

A consortium of regional councils was granted approval by the Environmental Risk Management Authority four years ago to import new supplies from Australia.