Bilby Welfare and Predator-Free Havens

Greater bilbies are critically endangered marsupials whose welfare is protected primarily through predator-free fenced havens that exclude introduced foxes and cats.

Key Facts

Fewer than 10,000 greater bilbies remain in the wild in arid Australia
Bilbies were extirpated from the eastern half of Australia by foxes and cats within decades of their introduction
Predator-free fenced sanctuaries support self-sustaining bilby populations as an insurance against total extinction
Bilbies are nocturnal, highly sensitive animals — captive management requires careful low-stress handling
National Bilby Day (second Sunday in September) raises funds for conservation programmes

Welfare Considerations

Bilbies predated by foxes and cats suffer acute fear and physical trauma before death. Their nocturnal lifestyle and sensitivity means handling for veterinary assessment requires specialist techniques to avoid stress-induced capture myopathy. Within predator-free sanctuaries, bilbies show normal foraging, burrowing and reproductive behaviour that demonstrates welfare recovery from predation pressure. The conservation case and welfare case for predator-free havens are entirely aligned.

What You Can Do

Donate to Australian Wildlife Conservancy bilby sanctuary programmes
Support campaigns for expanded predator-free sanctuary networks
Adopt a bilby through conservation organisation fundraising programmes
Advocate for feral cat management programmes in key bilby habitat regions