Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter, May the Easter Bilby visit you.

I will not wish that the Easter Bunny visits you. Well, not if you live in Australia anyway.

Here in Australia, rabbits are a menace. While some came from Europe with the first fleet, the first "successful" introduction was in Victoria in 1859. They were introduced to feed the foxes which were also introduced to provide hunting sport???
"The unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable" (Oscar Wilde)
The result has been a disaster to our grasslands and to our native animals.

For a number of years there has been a push to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter Bilby.
A bilby is a type of bandicoot. It has a black tail with a white tip and eats insects and fruit. They have greyish fur and ears a bit like a rabbit's. Being marsupials they have a pouch for their young which, of course, can also be used to carry Easter eggs!!!

They are an endangered species because of competition from rabbits and also attack by foxes and feral cats.

Therefore I have, as usual, purchased chocolate bilbies for my sister and brother-in-law for Easter (see right) and expect to receive one in return. Our family is a no-easter bunny zone.

I have purchased my chocolate bilbies from Darrel Lea which gives a donation to Save the Bilby Fund with every sale.


1 comment:

Fran said...

You have made my day with this one - I am filled with simultaneous laughter and revulsion!!

Happy Easter - He is risen!