Species 8. Macrotis lagotis.
Greater Bilby.
Estimated Numbers
~3,315 remain.
The Challenge
The challenge for humanity to save the Greater Bilby from extinction involves tackling habitat loss, predation by invasive species, and competition for resources. Once widespread across Australia, this iconic marsupial has seen its range drastically reduced due to land clearing for agriculture, urban development, and the encroachment of invasive predators like foxes and feral cats, which pose significant threats to its survival. Conservation efforts must prioritize habitat restoration and protection, alongside effective management of invasive species.
About the work
— Greater Bilby…
…features three cast and laser-etched acrylic coolamon. Two coolamon are etched with images of the last two Bilby known in NSW, the third central coolamon contains their story – shot dead on the Wagga Wagga Experimental Farm, now Charles Sturt University. The coolamon are wired up with exciters so that the objects themselves resonate with audio from the location of their passing, which is also interactively triggered by coming in close enough to hear.
The team is currently writing up this into an academic paper and more details will appear here soon.