I know I'm a bit early, but happy Easter everyone! I don't usually celebrate easter for the reasons others do. To me, it's more of a "bilby awareness" day (I only buy bilby chocolates, too)

For my non-Aussie friends reading, through-out Australia, the bilby has replaced the bunny as the easter animal for mainly three reasons:
1. To bring awareness to bilbies (they're classified as vulnerable)
2. To raise money for bilby conservation/non-profit groups, through chocolates
3. To bring awareness to the destruction caused by rabbits, who are also a factor in decreased bilby numbers

And in the spirit of education, here are some bilby facts:
.Bilbies once included two species: the Lesser bilby and Greater bilby. The Lesser bilby was officially declared extinct in the 1950's, leaving only the Greater bilby
.The closest living relatives to the bilby are bandicoots, sharing the Peramelemorphia order
.Bilbies have backwards facing pouches to prevent dirt from entering the pouch whilst they dig, much like wombats
.The scientific name for the bilby is Macrotis lagotis
.Bilbies are sometimes referred to as "pinkies", due to their pink noses
.Bilbies have one of the shortest gestations periods on any mammal, lasting only 12 to 14 days

Australian wildlife is beautiful, but at risk. And I hope I'm doing enough, even if I'm just one person

Time: 3 hrs 13 mins