Rabbits Face Extinction in UK

0:00On March 2nd, a deadly rabbit virus from China called rabbit hemorrhagic disease, or RHD, is poised to wipe out 90% of the wild rabbit, population in the UK. Experts warn that a new, highly virulent strain, known as RHD2, has likely arrived or will soon, killing rabbits in just two days through severe. Internal bleeding. There's no cure for the fast-bredding illness, which has already been quietly thinning herds for over a decade. This outbreak echoes the mixomatosis epidemic of the 1950s, which also decimated around 90% of UK rabbits before numbers slowly. Recovered. But this time, vets predict populations won't rebound anytime soon, as the virus evolves ahead of any immunity rabbits might build. On the ground, pest controllers and farmers are seeing dramatic drops firsthand. One shooter in Kent used to bag 100-150 rabbits per night 8-10 years ago, but now struggles to get six.

1:00He notes fields once grazed bare by bunnies, now have grass right up to the hedges. The fallout could ripple through ecosystems and farms. Rabbits held biodiversity by digging, scattering seeds, and controlling weeds, so their loss might actually benefit crops in some ways. Predators like foxes and birds of prey could see their numbers fall, too, easing pressure on livestock despite initial worries. While humans and livestock can't catch RHD, pet owners should vaccinate domestic rabbits, now possible in the UK. Efforts continue to improve testing for the new strain amid calls from more funding to track this global threat. nuit pending effect while humans and livestock can't catch RHD, pet owners should vaccinates. Now possible in the UK. Efforts continueow improve testing for new strain amid calls for more funding to track this global,