Wildlife

Bilby Welfare in Australian Desert Systems

Greater bilbies are critically important desert marsupials reduced to small fragmented populations by foxes, cats, and habitat change.

Key Facts

Bilbies were once distributed across 70% of Australia but now occupy less than 20% of their range
Feral cats are estimated to kill over a billion native Australian mammals annually
Bilbies are nocturnal and dig extensive burrow systems providing shelter for many other species
Easter Bilby campaigns have raised awareness but conservation need remains acute
Predator-free fenced reserves have allowed bilby population recovery

Welfare Considerations

Feral cat predation causes traumatic death, with cats killing bilbies even when not hungry. Fox predation similarly causes traumatic mortality. Small population fragmentation causes inbreeding stress. Drought reduces insect and plant food resources causing nutritional stress. Wildfires destroy bilby burrow systems and food resources simultaneously. Poison baiting for cats and foxes sometimes affects bilby populations indirectly.

What You Can Do

Support Australian Wildlife Conservancy bilby protection programs
Donate to fenced reserve expansion for bilbies and other marsupials
Advocate for feral cat control at scale including aerial baiting
Support Easter Bilby campaigns raising conservation awareness and funding
Engage with Australian government on predator management and habitat protection