Thanks to the many landholders across our operational area, a few beyond, who did the hard yards to maximise effectiveness of their participation in our Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 (K5) Release Program in 2025. Working in collaboration with private landholders who registered for this program, targeted releases were conducted on private properties across the Leschenault Biosecurity Group’s Operational Area. Now the focus is on taking advantage of reduced populations with integration of other rabbit control methods.

Each summer the Leschenault Biosecurity Group conducts a Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 (K5) Release Program with participating landholders across our operational area to deliver targeted releases as part of an integrated controls approach to rabbit control. The more people that participate, the more effective the program will be. Rabbits reproduce very effectively, and complete elimination of rabbits is close to impossible. With community members working together, significant decrease in numbers can be achieved.

Calicivirus “K5″releases are part of an integrated approach to optimise control of feral rabbits.

Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 is a very helpful, effective rabbit bio-control tool, but NOT a “silver bullet”. The virus provides an important tool for suppressing pest rabbit numbers throughout the landscape, reducing the substantial impact pest rabbits have on both agricultural production and the environment. While the “K5” releases won’t eliminate all rabbits, they do provide for a significant reduction in rabbit population, hopefully better enabling landholders the ability to implement other rabbit control strategies around their property. The key to success for effective rabbit control is persistence. “One-off” efforts produce only short-term results as rabbit populations can recover quickly even after successful control programs. As is well known, rabbits reproduce very effectively; complete elimination of rabbits is close to impossible. Persistence and integration of varied tools and methods to best address property-specific circumstances is key to effective, sustainable rabbit control.

Calicivirus RHDV1 K5 (“K5” Strain of the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus) is species-specific: This virus, used across the country as a biocontrol tool for rabbit management, specifically and only affects rabbits. Other species, including pets that ingest infected rabbits, or birds or other wildlife that may ingest virus inoculated oats, or spreading mediums, are not affected by this virus. Find out more about this virus from links at bottom of this page.

Virus Release Process:  LBG team members are accredited to mix the virus and inoculate a medium to facilitate targeted virus releases. LBG uses clipped oats for this purpose. The virus will remain active in the oats for a short time after inoculation so planning happens beforehand to pre-arrange collection dates and times for participants to receive their pre-determined quantity of virus inoculated oats on ‘Release Day.

Read more about LBG’s annual summertime Calicivirus RHDV1 K5 Release Program:   LBG Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 Release Program – Participant Information

Program Participation

• Registration is required – Summer 2026 Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 Program Details will be announced in December 2025
• Must be landholder or manager for property on which virus will be released
• Must be able to conduct feeding site selection and pre-feeding phase of this program on your property
• Landholders of properties within LBG Operational Area rated by the State for a Declared Pest Rate (DPR) may participate in this program at no additional cost, while virus supply lasts
• Participation for properties not rated by the State for a DPR or outside of the LBG operational area may participate for a fee for virus and related costs
• Participation by fee is available if virus supply permits relative to demand from  DPR rated landholders within the LBG operational area

Free Participant Workshops were conducted across our Operational Area, providing an overview of the LBG’s Calicivirus RHDV1-K5 Release Program, involved processes and tailored guidance to maximise the effectiveness of participation in this program. Keep an eye out for our summer 2026 workshops.