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About the story of Burra Nimu
Animals and Birds
The hero of this story is the bilby, an endangered species in Australia. Bindee’s original family are already extinct. They were ‘Lesser Bilbies’.
The information in the story about the behaviour, eating habits, etc. of bilbies and other native animals and birds is accurate.
Unfortunately, so too is the information about rabbits, foxes, and feral cats.
For example, rabbits really do often eat one another’s young, especially in crowded burrows.
They also take over the burrows of native animals, driving them out, and leaving them at the mercy of foxes and feral cats.
As for what rabbits do to the land, well, I’m sure most people have seen that for themselves.
Names Used
The name 'Burra Nimu' is not Aboriginal for bilby. However, I hope that it brings to mind both the many original languages of Australia and the many newer languages that also now belong to this country.
The names of the ‘baddies’ in the story, such as the rabbit general, Lepus, have their roots in the scientific Latin names for their species.
Initial Inspiration
My initial inspiration for the story of Burra Nimu, the Easter Bilby, came from the Anti-Rabbit Research Foundation of Australia. The story is written to encourage change that supports the conservation-related objectives of the Foundation and the protection of bilbies and other endangered Australian animals and birds, and their habitat.
Can You Help?
Hopefully, one day the story will be published as an illustrated book and an animated DVD. These could form part of a free ‘kit’ for primary schools that helps young children to discover more about our native Australian animals and birds, and what we can do to help them and their land.
There are also lots of possibilities about the adventures of the bilbies and their friends during their journey on the other side of the saltpan.
The website www.easterbilby.info has now replaced the original website (http://users.netconnect.com.au/Easter_Bilby/default.html). But there are still lots of things to be done to upgrade it!
If you'd like to help in any way with illustrating, animating, or publishing Burra Nimu, the Easter Bilby, as a children’s story book, animated DVD, improvements to the website, or free ‘schools kit’, please contact me at burra@easterbilby.info or jeni@easterbilby.info