Rabbits usually stop breeding in winter because baby bunnies are born without fur and hence susceptible to cold.
But winters in Australia are mild so rabbits could breed all throughout the year.
Also, thanks to extensive farming, food was everywhere.
A Royal Commission in 1901 resulted in a decision to build a barrier fence across the State.
When completed in 1907, it was the longest unbroken fence in the world.
Map of the Rabbit-Proof Fences in Western Australia.
Nowadays, rabbit population is kept in check by deliberately releasing certain viruses into the wild.
When first introduced in 1950, rabbit population dropped from an estimated 600 million to around 100 million.
However, genetic resistance in the remaining rabbits allowed the population to recover to 200-300 million by 1991.
Today, sections of the fence are maintained by individual landholders and regional councils.
Did you know, Australia has another pest control fence?
Its the Dingo fence and is 5,600 km long.
Photo credit:Jon Sullivan/Flickr
Photo credit:Erika Stotz/Panoramio
A rabbit trap along the Rabbit Proof Fence.
