Australians rally against rabbits with new Easter Bilby

Some proud Australians are swapping out the Easter Bunny for the Easter Bilby this year, a native animal related to the kangaroo that has long ears and a long tail, and is about the size of a bunny. Candymakers are crafting chocolate bilbies, and breeding programs are underway so families can adopt a pet Easter Bilby. Wild bilbies are endangered, with their numbers down to an estimated 600 because of an encroaching species foreign to Australia: rabbits. Making bilbies the new Easter mascot is an effort by Australian conservationists to fight back and boost bilby numbers. "Rabbits are a pest in Australia," said a caretaker for Sydney Wildlife Park. "The bilby is a beautiful, iconic native animal that is struggling."