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Bilby
A pencil sketch (variety of weights) copied from a photo of the Bilby - enigmatic Bandicoots of Australia. Decimated by all sorts of feral predators, competition, and habitat destruction - dedicated breeding programs at fenced wildlife sanctuaries are underway to bring it back from the brink. This is the Greater Bilby - sadly, the lesser species is already extinct. Also a rather sweet campaign to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter Bilby ! lol - those ears can hold a lot of chocolate :)
Image copyright Chosun Juan 2020
Habitat
supportive !
Location
'Lockdown' art group - sketched in the sun :)
Date taken
2020
Scientific name
Macrotis lagotis
Equipment used
pencil
A timely tale :t:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-27/extinct-bilby-release-after-100-years-sturt-national-park/12703800?fbclid=IwAR2Z7bXeE2uIo629iDynBI337-Hwf2BbKwPx4v-oQ-BRQ4vvzmSRc8gR-XQ





Chosun :gh:
 
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
Wonderful artwork again Chosun.

I saw a Quenda, or Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in Albany. It seems to be a different family from the one you've got here!

It's such a shame they're so threatened.

Thanks lass.
 
Thank you Delia ! :t:

I'm happier with this one - but the photo with my phone turned out terrible :eek!: All grey, and lost all the subtlety of shading .....

There are about 20-odd individual species of Bandicoots (not counting the Crash Bandicoot ! lol :) - the Bilby is just one special rather unique looking species. They are described as variously Threatened to Endangered. There are so many ferals here that survival in the wild is nigh on impossible - so conservationists are trying to rebuild their numbers on big predator proof fenced reserves.

Such awesome little critters - the almost translucent ears are like radars. Glad you got to see the species you did - you had such a wonderful trip ! :t:





Chosun :gh:
 
Thank you Kits :cat:

I should be very clear ! I copied the drawing from a photo - which is very necessary, or else they'll end up looking like something out of the FarSide ! :-O





Chosun :gh:
 
Some footage of these unique little beauties at an AWC partnered feral predator proof reserve in the Mallee Cliffs National Park - population has more than doubled in a year with 21 new young Bilbies ! :D

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3529077740487644&id=340186850202&fs=1&focus_composer=0

More story and footage of the original reintroduction here:
https://www.australianwildlife.org/awc-brings-bilbies-back-to-the-mallee/







Chosun :gh:
 
Thank you Joelle :)

They're very active little critters and spend a lot of time digging and earthmoving. Actually they are critical for the Australian environment the way they turn over and bury soil and seeds - the landscape aggrades in their presence. This is in contrast to the introduced feral rabbit whose different digging style degrades the environment ......






Chosun :gh:
 

Media information

Category
Art & Graphics
Added by
Chosun Juan
Date added
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613
Comment count
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