Efforts to save the greater bilby in AustraliaCEFR A1
21 Oct 2024
Adapted from Kevin Rennie, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Enguerrand Photography, Unsplash
- The bilby is a small, shy Australian mammal loved.
- It lives in dry and open parts of Australia now.
- The bilby has very long ears and soft fur.
- Today many wild bilbies are in danger of extinction.
- Rabbits, wild cats and foxes harm bilbies in nature.
- Farming, grazing and land clearing remove bilby homes and food.
- People make safe fenced areas for bilbies to live.
- Breeding programs help raise young bilbies for release.
- Families buy chocolate bilbies at Easter to help.
Difficult words
- bilby — a small, shy Australian mammalbilbies
- extinction — when a species dies out and stops living
- graze — to eat grass on land with animalsgrazing
- breed — to have and raise young animalsBreeding
- fence — to put a barrier around a placefenced
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you like the bilby?
- Would you buy chocolate bilbies at Easter to help?
Related articles
Father’s microplastic exposure affects offspring health
A mouse study found that when fathers were exposed to microplastics, their offspring developed metabolic problems. Female offspring showed diabetic signs and researchers linked the effect to changes in sperm small RNAs; the work was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Illegal Well Drilling Worsens Iran's Water Crisis
Iran faces a severe water shortage made worse by unauthorized groundwater drilling by military-linked actors. Official silence has allowed aquifers to fall, forcing village abandonment and producing wider ecological and social damage.
Indigenous rights and knowledge at COP30 in Belém
At COP30 in Belém (November 10–21, 2025), climate scientist Sineia Do Vale said securing Indigenous land rights and combining traditional knowledge with science is essential. Panelists urged funding and policy support after severe fires in Roraima in 2024.
Tasbaqa: Central Asian Tortoise on the Ustyurt Plateau
A short documentary by British director Saxon Bosworth follows the threatened Central Asian tortoise, called Tasbaqa, on the Ustyurt Plateau. The film shows the tortoise’s active months, features a Kazakh dombra soundtrack and aims to support conservation work.
Chinese electric car makers shift to Africa as Western markets close
After price pressure at home and new US and EU trade barriers, many Chinese electric vehicle firms are moving into Africa for sales and assembly. Governments and companies plan factories, dealerships and incentives.