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Significant Species

Bilby

The bilby, also known as Ninu, Mankarr, Warlpajirri and Aherte, is a species of cultural significance to Indigenous people across Australia as an important part of tjukurrpa. Historically, they also acted as a food source and their tails were used for decoration. Threatened by feral cat predation and habitat loss by wildfire and feral herbivores, the bilby is listed nationally as vulnerable.

Ninu burrow on Kiwirrkurra IPA.

"The Bilby is part of me. Part of this country. It makes my feeling so happy. The Bilby is on the country. I'm with him. My connection with the country. Me and the Bilby got one country to go walking."

Rita Cutter, Birriliburu, 2016 Ninu Festival

Description

Bilbies are a medium-sized marsupial with distinctive long pink-ish ears and a long snout they use to dig up foods like bulbs, insects and witchetty grubs. Weighing up to 2.5kg, they have long grey fur with white fur on the belly, and a long tail with a fluffy black tip. Ninu live in burrows up to 3m long and 2m deep to protect themselves from the heat and predators, with each bilby potentially having up to 12 burrows. Other native animals often use their burrows for shelter and protection too.

Key Threats

  • Predation by cats and foxes
  • Habitat change from too much grazing by feral herbivores (livestock, camels, rabbits)
  • Wrong way fire (too often, too intense, too big)

Tracks, signs & traces

Tracks made from the bilby's back feet are narrower and longer than those of the front feet. The track from the back legs is made mostly by the fourth toe. Tracks made from the front feet have three parallel lines made by the long front toes.

Distribution

Key Actions

Rangers across the desert look after bilby populations with fire and predator management around bilby habitat. The IDA facilitates research partnerships with NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub to assist ranger teams establish long term monitoring programs, facilitate DNA analysis of bilby scats and predator baiting around wild populations. The IDA have also facilitated a number of exchanges between member groups to promote knowledge sharing.

Kiwirrkurra rangers holding Ninu bones found outside a burrow with a camera. The only predator caught on camera was a feral cat.
Two Ninu at a burrow on Kiwirrkurra IPA.
Kiwirrkurra, Gooniyandi and Walungurru rangers on a 2022 ranger exchange focusing on looking after bilby.

Resources

Recovery Plan for the Greater Bilby

The relationship between the presence of people, fire patterns and persistence of two threatened species in the Great Sandy Desert

Related Stories

Warning: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of people who have passed away which may cause sadness or distress.