Trying to cut down on chocolate? Celebrate this Easter by adopting the endangered Greater Bilby for as little as $10 per month, and support your zoo in the ongoing fight to protect our native wildlife.
 
There are currently less than 600 Greater Bilbies left in the wild.Of the six Bandicoot species that once lived in the arid and semi-arid areas of Australia, the Greater Bilby is the sole survivor. Their decline can be directly attributed to feral cats and foxes.
 
Become a regular supporter of Zoos Victoria instead of buying that extra large chocolate egg, and help your waistline this Easter too!
 
Healesville Sanctuary is home to one Greater Bilby, Tanami, who is six years old and part of an important regional breeding program to help save them from extinction.
 
Tanami (named after a desert where Bilbies are found in the wild) has now reached ‘retirement age’ as six years is quite old in Bilby terms and she is unable to continue breeding.
 
Keeper James Goodridge said Healesville Sanctuary plays an important role in the breeding program.
 
“As part of the Zoos and Aquarium Association (ZAA) breeding program we house the older Bilbies in what you could call a retirement home,”
 
“We make sure Tanami is comfortable and well cared for, and we provide regular weight information to ZAA as well as monitoring how she is moving around, and any arthritis conditions she may develop,” he said.
 
Tanami’s favourite food is mealworms and corn, and she also needs to eat a lot of Omega 3 to maintain her soft coat.
 
“She absolutely loves peanut butter too, plus it’s a great way for us to hide her medicine!”
 
Tanami is on display in the Nocturnal House and guests can see her every day.
 
“If you love Bilbies you can get up close to Tanami as part of the Night Creatures Close Encounter tour, where you can pat her and sometimes even help me feed her or give her medicine,” he said.
 
Adopting animals is a fun way to support your zoo, with funds raised going to help us care for all of the animals at Zoos Victoria.
 
You can adopt a Greater Bilby for just $10 a month, $25 a quarter or $75 annually. You will receive an online information pack including a desktop picture of the Bilby and a fact sheet. All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. Click here for more information.
 
Help us help them this Easter.
 
For more information on the Night Creatures Close Encounter tour please click here.