An image of pines regrowing in a sandy environment
Pine regeneration in Wyperfeld National Park - Rhett Cameron.
An image of a Pink Cockatoo (also known as the Major Mitchell's Cockatoo) by Patrick Kavanagh.
The Pink Cockatoo (also known as the Major Mitchell's Cockatoo) calls the Mallee home and is found throughout the Mallee Bounceback project area - Patrick Kavanagh.
An image of a person undertaking rabbit control at the Murray Sunset National Park.
Rabbit control being undertaken by a Cultural Ranger at the Murray Sunset National Park - Rhett Cameron.
Image of vegetation before rabbit control in 2015 by Rob McGlashan, Parks Victoria
Vegetation before rabbit control (2015) in Pippins management block in north-west Victoria - Rob McGlashan, Parks Victoria.
Image of vegetation after rabbit control in 2021 by Rob McGlashan, Parks Victoria
Vegetation after rabbit control (2021) in Pippins management block near Mildura in north-west Victoria - Rob McGlashan, Parks Victoria.

The Mallee Bounceback project is part of the Weeds and Pests on Public Land program.

The Mallee Bounceback rabbit control project has been running for over 15 years which aims to restore the semi-arid woodlands in the Mallee, in north-west Victoria.

Rabbits cause harm to our native plants and animals by over-grazing, preventing the regeneration of native shrubs and trees, spreading invasive weeds, and they sustain high numbers of introduced predators.

This project has maintained low rabbit densities well below the set target of 1 or less rabbit per kilometre across 80% of survey sites.

From yearly vegetation monitoring, the project has found increases in ground-based plant richness and density, and some regeneration of key canopy species such as the Slender Cypress-pine.

The project is led by Parks Victoria with rabbit control being delivered across more than 100,000 hectares.

Much of the success of the Mallee Bounceback project has been a result of the successful collaboration between these partners over the last 15 years.

Mallee Bounceback - quick facts
Target pest European Rabbit.
Target native species/landscape Pink Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri), Inland Carpet Python (Morelia spilota metcalfei), White-browed Treecreeper (Climacteris affinis), and Semi-arid non-eucalypt woodlands.
Partners Parks Victoria, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), the First People of the Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, the Barengi Gadjin Land Council, the Mallee Catchment Management Authority, the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, and Trust for Nature.
Key areas Hattah Kulkyne National Park, Murray Sunset National Park, Wyperfeld National Park, and Lake Albacutya Park.

How can you help?

  • Join your local Friends or Landcare group, or explore volunteer opportunities with the Parks Victoria tool, ParkConnect.
  • Learn more about the threat of rabbits in Victoria by visiting Agriculture Victoria.

Find out more

Watch the video below on best practice rabbit control, created as part of an excellent video series produced by Agriculture Victoria.

Check out the rest of the videos in the series here.

Contact Us

Please reach out if you want to learn more about the Mallee Bounceback project under the Weeds and Pests on Public Land program.

You can email us at enviro.grants@deeca.vic.gov.au

Page last updated: 24/04/24