Greater Bilby

The greater bilby, with its long rabbit-like ears and silky grey-blue fur, is one of Australia's most charismatic desert-dwelling marsupials. Once widespread across much of the country, bilbies now inhabit only fragmented parts of arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in protected reserves and predator-free enclosures. Their disappearance from much of their former range has been driven by habitat degradation and the spread of invasive species such as foxes and cats.

Bilbies are expert diggers. With strong forelimbs and sharp claws, they create extensive burrow systems that help regulate their body temperature and offer refuge from predators. They are nocturnal foragers, using their keen sense of smell to unearth seeds, fungi, roots, insects, and larvae. Their foraging behaviour is beneficial to the environment, helping to aerate soil and disperse native plant seeds.

Socially, bilbies are mostly solitary, although their home ranges may overlap. Females can breed multiple times a year under the right conditions, with gestation lasting just two weeks, the shortest of any mammal. The young continue developing in the pouch for around 75 days. Conservation programs, including breeding and release efforts, have brought hope for the species’ recovery.

Did You Know?

Greater bilbies don’t need to drink water... ever! They get all the moisture they need from the food they eat, an essential survival trait in the desert.