What is a Bilby?
The Bilby is described as having long ears and a pointy nose. It is a small mammal and native to different parts of Australia. They are members of a group of animals called Bandicoots that are ground dwelling animals. Sadly The Greater Bilby is considered vulnerable and is on the endangered list and the Lesser Bilby is thought to be extinct. Bilby’s have very poor eyesight which is why their sense of smell and their hearing is so good. The Bilby is nocturnal and only comes out of its burrow at least an hour after dusk and sometimes if it’s pouring rain they don’t come out at all. The bilby is what is called omnivorous so they eat things like insects and there larva, spiders, seeds, bulbs, fruit, fungi and other small animals it doesn’t need to drink water like other animals it gets all its nutrition from the things they eat. Unlike most animals they don’t have set periods of time when they breed they can breed all year round.
Where are they found?
The bilby is found in the hot and dry areas of Australia. They are found in small and scattered spots of the Tanami desert located in the Northern Territory and also in the Great Sandy Desert Kimberly and also Pilbara all located in Western Australia. They live in shrub lands or spinifex where it hides in its burrow they build a new one every few weeks their burrow tends to be a spiral shape and 10ft long and 2 metres deep. They also live in Queensland and they used to inhabit 70 percent of Australia.
Why are they threatened? How have WE contributed with there decline?
Humans have contributed to the decline of the species as we have brought new animals into the areas where bilbies live. Cows sometimes step on Bilby’s burrows trampling on them. Cats both feral and domestic find the Bilby’s burrow and they go into them killing them. Bilby’s also have to fight for food with other animals for example rabbit’s as introduced animals are eating all the food. This is the Bilby’s biggest threat. The animals that we introduced in the 1st fleet. Also in the 1900’s they would set rabbit traps near Adelaide they caught just as much Bilby’s.
How can the Bilby be helped? What can we do?
Things in Australia is being done to save the Bilby. The Australian government has replaced the Easter bunny with the bilby this has been done to raise awareness about the bilby but also because the rabbit is not native to Australia. There are also organisations that help the Bilby one of these organisations is the Save The Bilby Fund. Something else that we can do that most zoos offer is become a bilby buddy or sponsor a bilby. You can also donate money. Being in a zoo can also help the bilby as it gives them the opportunity to breed making more Bilby’s so later they can release them into the wild.
Perspectives on the Bilby:
A few individuals have taken action against the bilby to try and protect it. These people are from the Save The Bilby Fund. They hold numerous events to try and save money to protect the bilby. One of their achievements is building a fence at the Currawinya national park this keeps rabbits, foxes and other animals out that threaten the species and in 2005 they released captive breed Bilby’s into the Currawinya national park. Their opinion on the bilby is to save and conserve the species, they support research into finding out why the species is declining.
The Bilby is also important to the native Abboriginal culture. The name comes from the Yuwaalaraay people that inhabit the northern side of NSW. They came as a common food source to the people.
The Bilby is also important to the native Abboriginal culture. The name comes from the Yuwaalaraay people that inhabit the northern side of NSW. They came as a common food source to the people.