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 Bilby on show at Australian Reptile Park 

Bilby on show at Australian Reptile Park

11 Apr, 2009 04:00 AM
ITS rabbit-like ears have earned it the title of Australia's Easter bunny alternative, and now the Central Coast has a bilby to call its own.

Kolgara, named after a town in the outback, is part of a host of furry friends to be showcased at The Australian Reptile Park at Somersby during the Easter long weekend and school holidays.

Relocated from a breeding program for the endangered species in South Australia, he is one of the park's newest attractions, calling it home for just one week.

Senior curator Tim Faulkner said the park hoped to get more bilbies to start its own breeding program, and while Kolgara was quite timid he would be out and about to meet visitors at 2pm every day during the school holidays.

"We thought we'd bring him out to spread the Easter message and also the message of how important it is to conserve these little fellas," Mr Faulkner said.

"They used to be found all over Australia, now there are only two populations on record. One in Queensland has 400 bilbies, and it's unknown how many are in the colony in Western Australia, if any."

Park presentations including funnel-web spider and snake milking and alligator and koala feeding will be run daily between 9.45am and 3.30pm during the school holidays, weather permitting.

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 NEW MATES: The Australian Reptile Park's senior curator, Tim Faulkner, makes eyes at a three-year-old bilby yesterday. - Picture by Kitty Hill
NEW MATES: The Australian Reptile Park's senior curator, Tim Faulkner, makes eyes at a three-year-old bilby yesterday. - Picture by Kitty Hill

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