The Easter Bilby is in Australia the substitute for the Easter Bunny known in our country. Rabbits were namely released in the 19th century by European immigrants as later hunting prey in the Australian bush. There, however, they quickly developed into a plague due to their strong reproduction and represent a threat to nature and agriculture in Australia.
Bilbies instead of bunnies
For several years now, the Anti-Rabbit Research Foundation (Australian conservation group) has been trying to replace the rabbit with the native bilby because of its bad reputation, according to the motto “bilbies, not bunnies”.
This rabbit-nosed boar (Macrotis lagotis) with large ears and soft fur is threatened with extinction in Australia, but according to the will of its supporters it should distribute the Easter eggs instead of the Easter bunny. To this end, they initiate an annual ceremony in which the Easter Bunny hands over the Easter eggs to the Bilby for the fifth continent.
Chocolate bilbies have been sold in many supermarkets since 1993, with part of the proceeds going to the protection of the endangered species. The money is used to maintain and fence off a good 14 square kilometer area for native species to protect the animals from wild diseases and unwelcome predators such as cats and foxes. It is also where the bilby population is expected to rebound under constant monitoring and research.
Easter in Australia
Down under is celebrated from Good Friday to Easter Monday. Good Friday is the only day of the year when all stores are closed. Even newspapers are not available on this day. Almost all Australians go to church over Easter to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus.
