Whether you prefer your bilbies furry or chocolatey, after facing impending extinction, there has been some good news for the tiny marsupial.
The bilby's battle for survival was looking futile when one of the 2 species, the lesser bilby was recently declared extinct. Unfortunately for the surviving greater bilby, that didn't mean it was elevated to a life of luxury, a community with around 150 newborn bilbies was raided by feral cats in queensland after a specially-built bilby fence was damaged by floods.
The bilby's survival was dealt another blow more recently with the collapse of the major sponsor of the save the bilby fund, Darrel Lea. The Australian chocolate maker donated around $50,000 a year, and it's sale of chocolate bilbies in the lead-up to Easter was the biggest single revenue raiser for the bilby fund.
The good news for bilbies, is that a Melbourne-based chocolate manufacturer has committed to making chocolate bilbies for Easter. As well as production support, Fyna Foods Australia presented the save the bilby fund with a $10000 cheque.
There was also some good news on the bilby breeding front, with the birth of triplet baby bilbies on the Gold Coast. It is believed they are the first triplets born in captivity.
Things are looking up for lovers of animals and lovers of chocolate. I hate to spoil the surprise, but everyone in my family will be getting chocolate bilbies this easter.
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