The Easter Bilby.

He’s got long ears, is made of chocolate and appears everywhere this time of year – No, I’m not talking about the Easter Bunnie – I’d like you to meet the Easter Bilby.

That’s right – Bilby.

For those who aren’t from Down Under, the Bilby is a small marsupial native to Australia.

They have big ears and are terribly shy.

They are also massively cute and in very real danger of extinction. In fact, there used to be two types of Bilbies – the great and the lesser Bilby – but it’s believed lesser Bilbies are now extinct.

Bilbies live in the dry outback – and are losing the battle for survival against introduced species. Their land is being taken for grazing, and introduced predators such as cats and foxes are a real problem. But the biggest threat to the Bilby is the rabbit.

Rabbits were introduced to Australia by early settlers and have become a serious environmental issue – breeding in huge numbers and causing a vast amount of damage to the landscape.

And they are driving the Bilbies from their homes.

We all know it’s not the rabbits’ fault as such – but they are a serious problem.

So – back in 1968, a 9 year old girl Rose-Marie Dusting, wrote a story, “Billy The Aussie Easter Bilby,” which she published as a book 11 years later.

The book was designed to promote awareness of the endangered Bilby.

Other books followed by other authors – and then there were the chocolate Bilbies.

Most of the authors and chocolate makers gave money to charities devoted to saving the Bilbies – but sadly not all (You know who I mean large multi-national chocolate company – shame on you!)

The movement is growing – and Easter Bilbies are found all over Australia now – and they have their own website.

So this weekend, while you are munching the ears off a chocolate bunnie, spare a thought for the Bilby.  It would be such a shame to lose these delightful creatures forever.