| The Easter Bunny carrying his gift basket
| |
| | population. In most parts of Australia,
|
| of colored eggs, chocolate and jelly
| |
| | it is even illegal to own a rabbit as a
|
| beans is a familiar symbol of the Easter
| |
| | pet.Because of the rabbit's history in
|
| holiday for many. But there is a
| |
| | Australia, some Aussies decided they
|
| movement down under to replace the Easter
| |
| | wanted a new symbol for their Easter
|
| bunny with the native Australian
| |
| | celebrations. They chose the bilby, a
|
| bilby.The rabbit was not originally
| |
| | native Australian animal and a member of
|
| native to Australia. It was introduced
| |
| | the bandicoot family. Thus, the concept
|
| in 1788, but did not spread rapidly until
| |
| | of the "Easter Bilby" was born. The
|
| two dozen rabbits were released in 1859
| |
| | bilby is similar in size to a rabbit,
|
| for sport hunting. The combination of no
| |
| | with long ears, long, snoot-like nose,
|
| natural predators in Australia and their
| |
| | soft grey fur, and a distinctive black
|
| infamous ability to breed quickly
| |
| | and white tail. The idea for the Easter
|
| resulted in the original 24 turning into
| |
| | Bilby has been around since the 1970s.
|
| a population of millions within 10 years.
| |
| | However, the idea has picked up momentum
|
| The rabbits ate much of the vegetation,
| |
| | in recent years, as the bilby has become
|
| causing food shortages for the indigenous
| |
| | an endangered species (currently, only an
|
| species. The vegetation removal also
| |
| | estimated 600 bilbys exist in the wild).
|
| caused significant problems with soil
| |
| | Just like the Easter Bunny, the bilby
|
| erosion. Despite many attempts to
| |
| | carries his basket full of chocolate eggs
|
| curtail the rabbit population, the
| |
| | and delivers goodies to children
|
| problem continues today. Currently, the
| |
| | everywhere in Australia each year. There
|
| rabbit causes an estimated $AU600 million
| |
| | are Easter Bilby songs, children's
|
| in damages per year. This widespread
| |
| | stories, cards, stuffed animals,
|
| damage to the Australian environment has
| |
| | chocolate-shaped bilby treats,
|
| resulted in the rabbit being viewed
| |
| | organizations, and websites, all
|
| unfavorably by the majority of the
| |
| | dedicated to this new tradition.
|
