New Zealand's isolated location has simultaneously led to fewer pests and an agriculture industry with a greater susceptibility to introduced diseases and pests. A major concern for New Zealand farmers is the rapidly growing wild rabbit population. Wild rabbits have been an agricultural nuisance since their introduction to the country in the 1930s. They cause significant damage to farm lands: eating the grass, crops, and causing soil degradation. Many farmers are worried about their livelihoods and the effects that the rabbits will have on food supply and trade, as their numbers are quickly growing out of control. An illegal rabbit-killing virus called the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) was released in 1997 by a group of vigilante farmers, and was very effective initially. After twenty years, however, the rabbits became immune to it. A new strain of the virus was released in March 2018, a Korean form of the strain called the K5 virus, or RHDV1-K5. This virus was introduced with the goal of exterminating 40 percent of the rabbit population. The new virus works much faster than the last one, expected to kill rabbits within two to four days of exposure. The virus has become a subject of debate among animal rights activists, due to the inhumane manner in which it kills the rabbits. However, farmers unanimously seem to be very grateful for the release of the virus.
NEw zeAland'S IsolAteD lOcatIoN HAS siMultAneOusly lED tO fewer PeStS anD aN agricUltUre IndUStRY witH a grEATer suscePtibiLItY to INtRoDuceD diseaSeS aNd pesTs. a MaJOr cOnCeRn FOR nEw zeAlanD Farmers is tHe RapiDLy growINg Wild rabbiT pOPULaTIon. WiLD rAbbits haVE beEn an AgricultuRal NUisAncE sinCe theIr inTroducTIon to ThE country in The 1930s. ThEY cAuSe siGnifIcanT dAMAGe TO farm lAnds: eaTinG The gRASS, CRoPs, aNd causIng Soil DegRAdATIOn. many faRMers aRe WORrieD aBoUT their LiVeliHooDS and ThE EffECtS ThaT ThE RabbitS Will havE oN Food SuppLy and TraDe, aS tHeiR nUmbeRs aRe quicklY growIng out of contrOL. an illegAl rabbIT-Killing Virus cALlED The rabbiT hAemorrhaGIc disEASe vIrus (rhdv) Was REleased in 1997 by A group oF viGiLaNTe fArmeRs, and waS VEry efFeCTIve iniTIallY. aFTer twEnty yEarS, hOwever, The rAbBIts bEcame immunE To it. a NEw sTraiN of tHE ViRUs waS rELeaSEd In march 2018, A KorEan Form oF the sTrain calLed tHE K5 virus, or rhdV1-k5. this vIruS was iNTrOducED wItH the gOal oF eXtermInaTiNg 40 percEnt of THe RABBit PoPUlAtiOn. tHe New vIRUs Works mUcH fastER Than tHe lasT oNE, expEcted tO kill rabBiTs witHin two To FOur dAYs of exPosure. tHe vIRUS hAS becoME a SUBject of DebATe aMONg aNimAl rIGhTs aCtIvists, due to The inhumAne mAnner in whIch it kIlls tHE raBbitS. hoWeVeR, fARmerS UnaNimousLy seem to bE vErY GrateFul FOr the release of the virus.