3 month-old baby bilbies in Queensland
Kids around Australia know the bilby because of a successful program begun over 10 years ago to encourage people to give chocolate bilbies to kids at Easter instead of chocolate bunnies, to raise awareness and initially funds for preservation programs (do the chocs still fundraise for these programs? anybody know?). It would be a rare child now who doesn’t get at least one choc bilby in their Easter stash.
From a Shark Bay WA tourist website (bilbies bred in captivity have been released into the wild in the National Park there):
The bilby is vulnerable to extinction. While its deep burrow can be an effective defence against feral cats, it is no match for a hungry fox, and if caught above ground, a small or young bilby can fall prey to cats as well. Bushfires and the introduction of rabbits and grazing stock, which compete with the bilby for food, have also contributed to its decline in most of its former range. However, in places free of foxes and grazing animals, such as Peron Peninsula, the bilby is making a comeback. More releases at sites such as Lorna Glen are planned, and will help to bring this unique Australian mammal back from the brink.
The Shark Bay website has a gorgeous video of bilbies burrowing and mooching around on sandhills, too.
Categories: arts & entertainment, environment
Otterday! And Open Thread 
A poster appearing around Brisbane 
Hoyden About Town 