Bilby population rises in southwest Queensland

Surveys in south-west Queensland have shown a big increase in numbers of one of the state's most endangered marsupials.
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Sunday is National Bilby Day, which is used to raise awareness of the plight of the endangered marsupial and other threatened species.

Four bilbies were released into a predator-proof enclosure in the Currawinya National Park, south of Quilpie, five years ago. It is the only site in the state where bilbies have been reintroduced to the wild.

Department of Environment and Resource Management zoologist Dr Peter McRae says the effort is paying off and the population is continuing to expand. "In the first two years almost after they were released, I was seeing one or two or maybe three bilbies in a week and now I can go down there and see 20 or 30 in a night," he said. "I guess the most important part of it is that I'm seeing little juveniles that are just out of the pouch - that is a really good sign."

Dr McRae says he is worried about people becoming complacent and tired of efforts to save Queensland's most endangered animals. He says while there are positive signs for the bilby population, the day should encourage people to consider the impact of humans on native animals.

More: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/10/3008000.htm

http://savethebilby.icemedia.com.au/

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