1.   Motorists would sometimes pelt them with rocks, eggs, ice-cream and even a dead rabbit that was shot.

2.   On one memorable occasion, Kokolia was accused by the authorities of concealing a political allegory in a drawing of a dead rabbit being eaten by worms.

3.   At least four sites have now confirmed rabbits dead with the virus.

4.   MAF tests on dead rabbits on Cromwell farms confirmed they had been killed by RCD.

5.   Tests of dead rabbits found at other locations in the South Island showed the infection has spread beyond the initial quarantine site, to the joy of local farmers.

6.   The virus escaped earlier this month when several dead rabbits were found on the Australian mainland.

7.   The dead rabbits were found by a student who had gone to their enclosure to feed them, the spokesman said.