Where "Bilby" Comes From
The bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is a burrowing, nocturnal marsupial related to bandicoots, easily recognised by its long ears and pointed snout — traits that earned it the nickname "rabbit-eared bandicoot."
From the 1990s, Australian conservation groups began promoting the "Easter Bilby" as a native alternative to the Easter Bunny, aiming to raise awareness of the bilby's endangered status and the ecological damage caused by introduced rabbits, which compete with bilbies for food and habitat.
"You can buy chocolate bilbies instead of chocolate bunnies at Easter now."
How Aussies Actually Use It
"Bilby" is used both for the real animal and for the chocolate Easter Bilbies now sold alongside — or instead of — chocolate bunnies in supermarkets each Easter.
It's become a genuine conservation symbol, with sales of chocolate bilbies often supporting bilby protection and habitat restoration programs.
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