Rabbits at the Australian War Memorial

The Australian Defence Force has a long history of military animals, including birds (pigeons and cockatoos), rabbits, camels, cats, dogs, horses, donkeys, monkeys, and even chickens.

Animals have been used for tracking, detecting, ratting, patrolling, sniffing, carrying, transporting, messaging, and rehabilitating, as well as for mascots and companions. The best technology for sniffing explosives is still the dog – they have been estimated to be 98% accurate, making them more reliable that metal detectors and mine sweepers.

But today there were no military animals on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial – except two rabbits.

http://www.awm.gov.au

MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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