Vegan Expo 2011

This is where it's at. This is where you can meet other people like you. Other people who love animals, love nature and the earth, are spiritual beings rather than followers, who love delicious compassionate food and who want to learn, heal and love even more.

The Vegan Expo (this Sunday May 01) has heaps of talks and presentations, workshops, healing activities, kids stuff, green cuisine, cruelty free stalls, films and people into stuff your into.

There will be a speech on at 3pm in the Seminar Room called Rabbits: Friends not Food. Anne Hall, animal rights activist and speaker, and member of the Companion Rabbit Advocacy, will be dispelling some of the larger myths about rabbits and will cover topics such as myxomatosis, meat farming rabbits, fur trade, rabbit rescue and caring for our friends- the bunnies. Please come and support her and enjoy the festival!

Bronte.

Female/Breed: /Age: under 6 months old.

Bronte is an adorable white bunny rescued off a Sydney highway by a concerned bunny lover- Talia. She has been raised indoors and has a bit of a fear about being outside perhaps left over from her days of abandonment near the busy highway. She is super social, cuddly and like to lick and play. She is a little shy at the moment but might like a companion to play with. She is not suitable for children under 13 or other larger animals. She is looking for a loving, patient, bunny-savvy or eager to learn home who is happy to house her indoors as a family member, preferably with a mostly free range lifestyle. She is litter trained and will be desexed, vaccinated and vet checked. Bronte is currently with Talia in Lawson, The Blue Mountains.

Rabbits scientists’ bunnies

DEAD rabbit’s liver.
It’s not the most appealing subject, but it is certainly in high demand at the Orange Agricultural Institute.
Residents who come across a recently dead rabbit are asked to contribute the carcass or liver to help researchers gain the upper hand in the biological warfare on the ferals.
By analysing the livers, NSW Department of Primary Industries scientist Tarnya Cox and her team are hoping to gain further insight into counteracting rabbits’ immunity to rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD).

Read full article here.

Worst rabbit plague since 1995 could spiral out of control

IT'S the worst rabbit plague in Australia since the 1995 release of the calicivirus from Wardang Island.

And it's threatening much of the good work in eradicating the nation's most costly animal pest.

Authorities have blamed a reduced focus on controlling the rabbit pest and immunity to calicivirus for the growing problem, which costs the nation an estimated $200 million a year.

Foundation for Rabbit-Free Australia chairman Nicholas Newland said a failure to recognise the extent of the emerging issue was exacerbating the problem.

Read more here.

Feral cull on Australian sub-Antarctic island

Another attempt is underway to try to kill every rabbit, rat and mouse on Macquarie Island.

The sub-Antarctic island, half way between Australia's southern island state of Tasmania and Antarctica, is a key breeding ground for rare sea birds, penguins and seals.

But it's also been a breeding ground for feral animals that are eating bird eggs and gorging their way through the native grasses.

Last year's attempts to kill the pests failed, and and a second attempt to cull the feral animals is now underway.


Listen here.