According to a post on the German Schuling forum: Forum There will be greater bilbies coming to European zoos as result of successful cooperation between EAZA and Australian zoos. Stuttgart and Leipzig are mentioned as future holders (though there will be probably more). Does anyone on here know more about this future import (when? and possible other holders...)
This would make me very happy! As a kid my parents read me 'Bush Birthday' hundreds of times; seeing Bilbies at Healesville was an unexpected but welcome highlight of my time down under. They were very active and astonishingly charismatic, and along with their extinct cousin the Lesser Bilby, carry a powerful conservation message. I think they would be a great addition to any Nocturnal House.
Any further news on this? Have they arrived, are arrangements still being made, or was this all a red herring?
No red herring,from what I understand before they will ship them,all exhibits have to be finished and meet the standards the Australians set for size and substrate,off show holding and a whole pile of other conditions,once they have been met it should happen very quick!
Zoo Leipzig has just announced that they will receive Bilby somewhere in 2017 and they will be kept in the tunnel to Gondwanaland.
And the European introduction will go similar as the quolls process. Leipzig will keep all imported animals and the offspring will be send to other European zoos.
The greater bilby now has it's own EEP, when will they arrive? http://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads/CCC/Overview-EAZA-Breeding-Programme-January-2017.pdf
Things sank quite near the finishing line as I understand - after bilby merchandise was produced for Leipzig in preparation for the imminent arrival of the species, leading to it being sold at knockdown prices in their shop