The rabbit proof fence was made for the
simple purpose of restricting rabbits from further spreading
throughout Western Australia. The decision was made to make a fence
by Arthur Gregory Manson after he traveled from Coolgardie to Eucla
to investigate how bad the plague of rabbits had become. Arthur
Gregory Manson traveled 380 mile, 215 miles of that was on camel and
164 on foot. During his travels Manson and his expedition killed
over 20,000 rabbits that was a small amount to the 10 million killed
in the first 8 months of 1887. Farmers in the east were the most
effected as the plague of rabbits ate the seedlings of trees and
shrubs. This had a large impact on the native vegetation in the dry
inland areas, where plants don't germinate regularly, making many
species nearly extinct. Western Australia was very worried about
this due to it being largely Semi to arid zone climate.
