Hinterland Grapevine - Bilbies in the Park

Frank ‘the bilby man’ Manthey will be bringing some of his precious marsupials to visit Maleny.   The bilby is a marsupial mammal which belongs to the bandicoot family and is about the size of a rabbit.

Unfortunately it is in the list of Queensland’s 12 most endangered mammals. Bilbies live naturally for about 6 years.   The bilby’s predators include goannas, cats, foxes, dingoes, snakes, large birds and large night birds of prey.

Frank said, “It’s hard to believe there are only around 600 of these Australian marsupials left in the wild.”   You will find them in isolated arid and semi-arid areas in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.   Bilbies favour areas with little vegetation.   They once inhabited areas of savannah woodland, but have long since left these better watered parts. They now inhabit arid hummock grassland with spinifex or tussock grass.

The Queensland bilby population is scattered across a 100,000km2 area between Birdsville and Boulia.

In Currawinya National Park Frand and his "bilby brother" Peter McRae have worked hard in having a sanctury opened to ensure the longevity of the bilby and that sanctury was officially opened on Sunday 15 April 2001.   This area is fully enclosed with a secure electrified fence and bilbys are allowed to live in peace away from predators.

This is your opportunity to meet Frank and his bilbys in person.

Bookings can be made by contacting the Mary Cairncross Centre on 5499 9907.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 15 July 2008 )

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