Greater bilbies are important in the restoration of soil and rejuvenation of vegetation in arid Australia. They use their strong front paws to dig deep holes in soil that enables plant material to fall in and decompose. At the same time, soil is aerated which supports seed germination. Bilbies essentially create numerous compost pits every night. Habitat destruction, introduced species and urban development threaten the survival of the bilby and other native species. Your support can make a big difference.
Martu Country is home to probably the world's largest surviving population of greater bilbies, but they're in trouble. Feral cats are a major cause of their decline.
Our scientists have worked with the Martu Rangers to develop to best way to monitor their land and manage the survival of these unique and vulnerable species. Learning more about where bilbies are found, monitoring trends in their populations and determining best practice land management are important ways to conserve bilbies in the wild. Make the most generous gift you can today. The clock is ticking for the vulnerable Greater Bilby and unique animals such as the bum-breathing Fitzroy River Turtle.
They could face an uncertain fate unless people like you step in. Photo Bruce Thomson. The two main threats are competition for food from livestock and introduced species such as rabbits , and predation by foxes and feral cats.
Bilbies are known to enclose themselves in their burrows to escape from predators, which will often try to come in after them. Changing fire patterns have also affected Bilbies.
That's why it's very important that traditional patch burning is undertaken in the areas where Bilbies remain. Small patch burns act as fire breaks and reduce the size of large wildfires, they also promote food plants for the Bilby.
The Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area occupies 6. Our ecologist is working with the Birriliburu Rangers to monitor Bilby populations. The Birriliburu Indigenous Protected Area represents the southern edge of their current range — which has been retreating north in recent years.
The Birriliburu Rangers are experts in tracking, finding burrow systems and identifying suitable Bilby habitat. They're passionate about Bilby conservation and want to see the species survive and thrive on their country, as it has for thousands of years.
See our bushgifts card range for more. Donate today to help us continue this and other vital conservation work. Most of our operating costs are funded by generous individuals. Skip to Content. No other country is home to a giant burrowing bandicoot with a backward pouch, oversized ears, well-developed claws, a long tongue, that lives under the ground and eats insects.
And no other country has a giant burrowing bandicoot that delievers eggs at Easter, either. The name Bilby is derived from the Ullaroi language name for Bilby — Bilba.
Since European settlement, at least 80 per cent of Australia's bilby population has gone. To ensure that our last remaining species of bilby does not fall extinct, wildlife officials say threatened species awareness could make all the difference.
There are more rabbits in Australia than any other mammal including people and the introduced species puts pressure on over endangered animals and plants, including the bilby.
We have 76 invasive backbone species in Australia, like rabbits, and foxes, feral cats, goats, donkeys, cane toads etcetera, and often Australians know more about these spieces than the ones that actually belong. Controlling foxes, feral cats and fire are crucial in saving the demise of the bilby, which is why Indigenous land management plays such a fundamental role in their survival.
Nearly 80 per cent of the small population of bilbies live on Aboriginal owned or managed land, leaving many Indigenous people responsible for protecting its population.
Most Indigenous rangers have superb tracking skills and harness traditional and contemporary knowledge to assist in the bilby's survival. Gregory Andrews says that the best way for the Australian Government to help bilbies is to work with Aboriginal people.
So my primary focus with bilbies is to support Indigenous hunting and burning.
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