The Easter Bilby

On a superficial level, rabbits and bilbies share many common characteristics. For example, they are both of a similar size with long ears and soft fur, they also both live in burrows.

However!

Bilbies are native to Australia and have evolved in the Australian environment, rabbits, on the other hand, were introduced to Australia . They compete with native species for resources and multiply rapidly, causing severe enviornmental damage in many areas. It is no surprise then, that a movement pushing for the Easter bunny to be replaced with the Easter bilby arose!

There is some debate about where the idea for the original Easter bilby came from. What is known however is that the idea is not a new one, it has been around since the 1970s. Books, articles and campaigns have all helped to raise awareness about the plight of the bilby and the destruction caused by rabbits. More recently, companies such as Darrell Lea's and Haigh's have taken the idea on board donating a percentage of profits form the sale of Easter bilbies to the 'Save the Bilby' fund.

Next Easter buy bilbies, not bunnies, and help to save this unique endangered marsupial!

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