Here in Australia the Easter Bunny has a counterpart in the Easter Bilby. Bilbies are a native Australian marsupial who have lost much of their habitat partially due to the import of rabbits. Many groups such as the The Australian Bilby Appreciation Society have made a push for the bunny to be replaced by the bilby. Some schools have even had ceremonies were the Easter Bunny turns over his basket of eggs to the bilby.
Most of the maj
or chocolatiers including Haigh's, Pink Lady and Darrell Lea have not only started making chocolate bilbies but some of the proceeds from these chocolates go directly to bilby conservation.
or chocolatiers including Haigh's, Pink Lady and Darrell Lea have not only started making chocolate bilbies but some of the proceeds from these chocolates go directly to bilby conservation.There used to be two species of bilbys but one became extinct in the 1950's. The switch to the Easter Bilby is all part of the national recovery plan to save the endangered bilby species that still exist.
Other aspects of the plan are managing the Bilby's remaining habitat, breeding in captivity, monitoring existing populati
ons, and
re-establishing Bilbies in areas where they previously occurred.
ons, andre-establishing Bilbies in areas where they previously occurred.
For Bilby stories, games and even a song visit
