Bush rats unleashed on Sydney

BUSH RAT: The Australian native rat is commonly known as the bogul, and less commonly known by it's Latin name, rattus fuscipes.

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Scientists are breeding an army of rats which they plan to let loose across Sydney.

But these are not the filthy, disease-riddled black rats commonly found romping around sewers.

They are the altogether cleaner - and some would say cuter - native bush rat, often known as the bogul or by its latin name rattus fuscipes.

Back in the early 1900s numbers of the humble bush rat fell significantly but accidentally in Sydney during a campaign to exterminate the black rat.

Plague gripped parts of the city and people were offered six pence for every black rat corpse taken to a purpose-built furnace in Bathurst Street.

It was effective - but the native bush rat was also massacred.

"Historical records and photographs suggest that harmless rodents such as water rats and the native bush rats were caught up in the culling of black rats," said University of NSW's Dr Peter Banks.

Loss of bushland around Mosman, Cremorne and Manly further decimated their population and the species has only very rarely been seen in the city ever since.

A team of researchers are breeding bush rats in captivity and plan to release them in 12 areas, including Mosman and Cremorne during 2011 to see if they can re-establish themselves.

The researchers plan to trap around 70 percent of the black rat population in the locations before releasing the native rats.

Dr Banks told AAP the move would help restore nature's balance, ousting black rats and ease pressure on animals they usually prey upon.

The creatures are harmless, clean and live harmoniously with their surroundings.

If successful the trial will be expanded to other parts of the city and the project could be repeated in other states and territories.

"People think of the black rat as being a bit fearsome but actually the native bush rat would bully it out.

"What we think will happen is the bush rat will take the place of the black rat and create much more of a balance," Dr Banks added.

Experts from Taronga Zoo, UNSW, Sydney University and the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change are among those working on the project thanks to a $365,000 grant from the Australian Research Council.

- AAP