Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Bilby baby born at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to help repopulate endangered species

Jabiru96 · 23 Dec 2015

Bilby baby born at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to help repopulate endangered species - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

A tiny bilby joey is causing a stir on the southern Gold Coast, the first to be born from a local breeding program in three years.

The greater bilby is an endangered species, with only an estimated 400 to 600 remaining in the wild in Queensland.

Their numbers have been decimated by feral cats and foxes, and the sanctuary's breeding program is aimed at bringing the species back from the brink.

Senior mammal keeper Alice Roser is one of the lucky few who gets to tend to and handle the tiny bundle of fur.

"She is the centre of attention. She's very, very cute," Ms Roser said.

"I quite enjoy my days on that I can go in and check her. She's tiny compared to the adults so she's exceptionally cute."

The tiny joey's mother Shiny and father Jundah had no trouble conceiving.

"The male has only just recently arrived so it was pretty quick," Ms Roser said with a laugh.

"It was not that difficult this time around."

Staff are yet to give the new arrival a name.

"We'll just try and get to know her personality a bit more and we'll then go with a name," Ms Roser said.

"See if we can pick something that's a little bit of a nice Australian name for her."

The joey is expected to stay as part of the sanctuary's breeding program.
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Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Bilby baby born at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to help repopulate endangered species

Jabiru96 Well-Known Member

Log in or Sign up

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Bilby baby born at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to help repopulate endangered species

Jabiru96 Well-Known Member

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