AusLeisure

With today being National Bilby Day, Zoos SA has shared that Greater Bilby joey twins (a male and female) born three months ago at Monarto Safari Park are now out and about exploring the new world around them – just in time for their species’ national day. Up until last week the twins were snuggled up in pouch of mum, three-year-old Lisa.

The Greater Bilby once inhabited over 70% of the Australian mainland, however populations have been devastated by predators like feral cats and foxes with the species becoming extinct in South Australia by the 1930s.

Today, wild populations are found in the Tanami Desert, the Great Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert and parts of the Pilbara and Kimberley regions, and the southwest of Queensland.

While the distribution of the Greater Bilby  is widespread, numbers are declining and the species is listed by the IUCN Redlist as vulnerable to extinction with less than 9,000 individuals remaining.

Assistant Curator Tom Hurley notes “Monarto Safari Park has over 25 years of history in bilby conservation, so it is really special that the joeys are out of the pouch in time for National Bilby Day.

“They symbolise the hope we have for their species and help our visitors learn more about native wildlife and conservation.

“The Greater Bilby is such a significant species because they are ‘ecosystem engineers’. The loss of their burrowing and digging habits in the wild has flow-on effects such as a reduction in soil quality and the loss of other species.

“So it’s incredibly important for us to not only be part of a breeding program and rewilding efforts, but also to spread the word about bilbies on days like today!”

This is Lisa’s second litter after she gave birth to another set of twins, Lilly Pilly and Fern, at Easter.

Zoos SA’s work with the Greater Bilby National Recovery Team has involved captive breeding, maintenance of the species studbook, supervising research and contributing to recovery efforts.

Their breeding program at Monarto Safari Park has seen over 200 bilbies born with more than 90 released back into the wild as part of vital recovery projects.

Zoos SA are especially proud of their work in reintroducing Greater Bilbies back to South Australia areas including Thistle Island, Venus Bay, and Roxby Downs after an absence of nearly 70 years.

To help ensure the future of our long-eared marsupial friends, you can adopt a bilby.

For more information, visit adelaidezoo.com.au or monartosafari.com.au.

Related Articles

7th December 2018 - The return of the Bilby to National Park marks a significant outcome for Australian Wildlife Conservancy

21st September 2017 - Western Plains Zoo sanctuary to aid Bilby conservation

20th April 2014 - Royal couple open Taronga Zoo Bilby exhibit

30th June 2022 - Zoos SA EOFY appeal to help keep endangered animals warm through winter

17th April 2022 - Zoos SA offers animal enrichment to celebrate Easter

9th March 2022 - Zoos SA share sustainability information on Monarto Safari Park’s new Visitor Centre

10th February 2022 - Zoos SA announce Kangaroo Island Dunnart is persisting post bushfires

19th November 2021 - Zoos SA makes considered decision to mandate COVID vaccinations

5th November 2021 - Zoos SA celebrate multiple South Australian Tourism Awards

17th October 2021 - Zoos SA launches wild wellness program

24th September 2021 - Zoos SA monitor Giant Pandas during annual breeding season

29th July 2021 - Zoos SA reopens Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park and extends Illuminate Adelaide

14th July 2021 - Zoos SA calls on public to recycle old mobile phones this World Chimpanzee Day

18th May 2021 - Zoos SA announce another successful Tasmanian Devil breeding season at Monarto Safari Park

12th May 2021 - Zoos SA online auction goes live to support its Animal Health Centre

1st January 2021 - Zoos SA shares five conservation wishes for 2021

7th September 2020 - Zoos SA and Aussie Ark mark National Threatened Species Day

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.