Invasive Species, Feral Rabbit

The feral rabbit in Australia contributed to the population decline of many native plants and animals, and possibly the extinction of several ground-dwelling small mammals. "The rabbit was originally confined to the Iberian Peninsula...Much later, rabbits were put ashore from ocean-going sailing ships...Rabbits have been introduced to over 800 islands so far for reasons ranging from a food source for shipwrecked sailors to a source of amusement for tourists. Introductions have varied in success from complete failure to populations so large that they destroy almost all vegetation on the island."