Bibi is our Travel Buddy. Mrs McGhee bought him from Coles in Beaudesert. He is very cute with big ears and a long bushy tail. He is very soft and cuddly. Mrs Carr, our Technology teacher told us all about Bibi's real relations the bilbies. We sent Bibi to South Africa to Springfield Junior Convent in April 1998. He's back now.

Years 1, 2 and 3 Hillview SS

Read the story of Burra Nimu - The Easter Bilby

Information about bilbies and greater bilbies

Here's a report that the Year 3's wrote.

The bilby is a small mammal that lives in the dry areas of Australia.

Bilbies have a long snout and very compact bodies. They have a long tail and a long slender tongue. They have long ears and silky fur. They have very poor eyesight and that is why they have long ears. Their soft fur is a blue grey with a white or cream belly with two fawn stripes on each hip.

They have sharp claws which are used for burrowing and digging for food. Bilbies eat seeds, insects, fruit and fungi. Bilbies are active at night and shelter druing the day.The bilbies burrows are a spiral downwards for about two metres. They used to be found in most areas of Australia.The bilby is hunted by foxes, dingoes and ferrel cats. Others are killed by rabbit traps and poison baits. They were killed for their skins. Now they are protected so they can't get killed.

They breed throughout the year. As with other bandicoots, Bilbies have a short gestation of a period of 14 days. Young are carried in the pouch for 75 days following birth and become independent quickly. In ideal conditions, females pruduce four litters of one to three young every year.

Written by Year 3 Hillview SS March 1998.