Better protection for our Easter bilbies

Australia’s answer to the Easter Bunny, the Greater Bilby, is being given another chance to bounce around this Easter.

Once inhabiting two-thirds of Australia, Bilby populations are now reduced to 15% of our land, largely in Central Australia.

Sadly, the Greater Bilby is listed as vulnerable under environmental law. It is at risk of extinction from habitat loss, introduced predators like cats and foxes, and fire.

That’s why the Albanese Labor Government has announced a new plan to guide the protection and recovery of this iconic species.

The new Recovery Plan draws on First Nations knowledge and western science to help bring this precious species further back from the brink. It includes activities like research and management by Traditional Owners, removing and managing feral species, and repairing Bilby habitats.

The Government is also investing more than $5 million in programs to protect the Greater Bilby. This includes almost $1.6 million to manage threats to bilbies in Central Australia, especially fire and feral predators.

The new Recovery Plan for the Greater Bilby has been prepared by Indigenous organisations and communities, conservation groups, zoos and wildlife organisations, researchers, and governments.

Environment Ministers from Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales have all signed on to make the recovery plan a reality.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP:

“With its pink ears, soft grey coat, and little bouncy feet, the Greater Bilby is an iconic Australian animal.

“We want to make sure it can be a beloved Easter icon for generations. That means tackling threats like rabbits, an invasive animal whose eating and digging threatens over 300 native species.

“We know that feral cats and foxes, fires, and habitat clearing all threaten the Greater Bilby. We need to lift our game to meet our target of zero new extinctions, and this Recovery Plan is another step to make that a reality.”

Bilbies wild in NSW after release in Pilliga forest, near Narrabri

For the first time in more than a century, bilbies are running wild in NSW, with a conservation area near Narrabri.

There were 30 of the small marsupial released in a specially fenced, predator-free section of Pilliga forest.

Bilbies disappeared in the NSW wilderness in about 1910, as a result of introduced predators including foxes and cats.

Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said were the first of the 13 regionally extinct mammals that would be returned to the wild through the NSW government’s 10-year Saving Our Species project.

“The return of the bilby is internationally significant: this is a major victory in the campaign to save our species from extinction,” Ms Upton said.

“To have them back in our national parks is a magnificent sight to see and a clear innovative step by this government, towards securing populations of threatened species.”

The bilbies are being housed within 32 kilometres of predator-proof fence encompassing 5800 hectares

Other locally-extinct mammals to be reintroduced in to western NSW under the $42.1 million project, include the bridled nail-tail wallabies, brush-tailed bettongs and numbats among the species to follow.

The Pilliga project is being carried out by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in a partnership with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC).

AWC boss Tim Allard said the return of the bilby to the Pilliga is a spectacular outcome not just for the bilby, but also for Conservation.

“Within a short space of time, AWC’s Ecologists and Land Managers constructed the 32km fence, eradicated feral predators, and have successfully reintroduced the bilby,” he said.

“This fenced area will also provides a secure environment for another five species, including the Bridled Nail-tail wallaby, as well as many extant species such as the Pilliga mouse and bird species. 

“The aim is that the Pilliga will return to what it was like 200 years ago, before feral predators took their toll.”

This Easter buy Bilbies not Bunnies

Easter is always a great opportunity to help out our Australian Bilby. By buying chocolate bilbies, rather than bunnies, you contribute to the conservation of this iconic endangered species.

Organic Easter Bilby Chocolate

We have a limited number of our (delicious) Easter Bilbies available! Each purchase helps Bilby conservation - we will be giving 10% back to the Save the Bilby Fund!

We tracked down Australia's best organic, ethical chocolate & are excited to partner with Deva Cacao in Bellingen to bring you these yummy Bilbies! - Organic, artisan chocolate created in small batches & sweetened only with raw Australian honey!

They are locally made using raw cacao, fairly traded & packed in sustainable, compostable packaging! So not only are these chocolates good for Bilbies, but they are also good for you & good for the planet!

Deva Cacao is the first tempered raw chocolate in Australia and the first chocolate naturally sweetened with the medicinal powers of 100% cold pressed Australian honey!
It's delicious, ethical, good for you and has a sensational, velvety mouth feel.
All of the ingredients are fairly traded and naturally free of dairy and gluten so you can relax and enjoy the bilbies entirely guilt free!

We can deliver locally to the Mid-north Coast & Northern NSW areas. We will also have them available at cafes, wholefoods stores and at local markets. Send us a message if you are interested in purchasing any!

hello@wildlifeconservationco.com