Class: Mammalia
Order: Diprotodontia Suborder: Vombatiformes Superfamily: Vombatoidea Family: Vombatidae Genus: Lasiorhinus Species: Lasiorhinus krefftii Common name: Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat Conservation status: critically endangered (International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) |
The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat is one of 3 species of wombat found in Australia (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). The other 2 species include the Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinis) and the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat is the largest of the 3 species, on average reaching 1m long and 35cm in height (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). They can weigh up to 35kg, however females are slightly heavier than males (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). They have a thickset, long-slung body with a very small bare tail (Triggs 2009). Wombats have very large shoulder muscles and a broad pelvis as well as sharp claws, all perfect adaptations for a digging lifestyle (Triggs 2009). The lifespan of these rare marsupials is unknown; however there have been reports of Northern Hairy-nosed wombats living up to 23 years old (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
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Diet
Wombats are nocturnal herbivores (Triggs 2009). Their noses are vital for survival as they have poor vision (Triggs 2009). Their diet consists of mainly native grasses such as black speargrass, golden beard grass and they have also been known to graze on introduced species such as buffel grass (Preservation Society of Wildlife QLD 2013). Their teeth grow continuously through out their lifetime to enable them to grind food matter to a small particle size, which maximises digestion (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). Relative to its size the wombat spends little time foraging for food, it spends around 2 hours foraging in the summer and 6 in the winter (Preservation Society of Wildlife QLD 2013). Wombats have a nutrient poor diet so to conserve energy they have a low metabolic rate (Preservation Society of Wildlife QLD 2013).
Habitat
Before European settlement the wombat population stretched from Victoria through New South Wales and up to Queensland (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). Sadly, the Northern Hairy-nosed wombat is now only found in 2 sites, both of which are located in Queensland. These sites include the Epping Forest National Park, which is located north-west of Clermont in central Queensland and the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge at Yarran Downs, 70km north of St George in southern Queensland (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). The Epping Forest National Park is approximately 3000 hectares of open eucalypt woodland and Brigalow communities (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). However, approximately only 500 hectares of this park is inhabited by wombats due to the rest being unsuitable habitat (The Wombat Foundation 2013). The population located at Epping Forest National Park contains approximately 126 individuals (The Wombat Foundation 2013). While the second population of wombats near St George contains only 12 translocated wombats. This breeding colony was established in July 2009 to insure the population doesn’t become extinct (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
Burrows
Although mostly solitary, wombats often share burrows and up to 4-5 wombats can be found sharing a burrow (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). This behaviour usually involves female aggregations rather than males (The Wombat Foundation 2013). Burrows are usually constructed under or near trees as it supports the construction in the soft sandy soils (The Wombat Foundation 2013). Larger burrows can contain up to 100m of tunnels, which may be almost 4m deep and contain approximately 10 entrances (The Wombat Foundation 2013). It is rare for members of a burrow to change burrows, however within a wombat’s lifetime it has been observed that they will change burrow groups at least once (The Wombat Foundation 2013). This behaviour could be used to prevent inbreeding within group communities (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
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Reproduction
The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat gives birth to one young usually during the wet season (November - April) (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). The gestation period is very short and most likely around 22 days (Triggs 2009). When born the young will only be approximately 15mm long and weigh half a gram, resembling a jellybean (Triggs 2009). After birth the young makes its unassisted journey to the mother’s pouch where it attaches itself to her teat and undergoes further development and growth (Triggs 2009). The young will suckle for approximately 8-9 months before it enters the world for a second time (Triggs 2009). The young will then remain in the borrow while the mother forages for food, this usually lasts for 3-6 months (Triggs 2009). The young is thought to be weaned around 12 months of age (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
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The main threats to the Northern Hairy-nosed wombat
Loss of habitat:
The 2 population sites, Epping Forest National Park and the Richard Underwood Nature refuge, are protected however there is limited appropriate habitats for the Northern Hairy-nosed wombats due to a loss of habitat (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). Drought:
Drought can be devastating to these populations; numbers may be maintained however breeding will stop until the wet season. There can be long droughts for example the 6-year drought that occurred in the 1990’s, which had devastating effects on population growth (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). Low population numbers:
Having a small population size of approximately 200 individuals across the 2 populations makes the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat vulnerable to any threats (The Wombat Foundation 2013 & Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). The main concerns with low population numbers are the susceptibility to disease, the loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). Predation:
Wild dogs can pose a serious threat to this delicate population (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). For instance during 2000 and 2001 more than 10 wombats were killed by wild dogs, at the time of the attacks this equated to approximately 10% of the entire population (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). Similar reports have been documented with dingoes (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). In 2002 the Department of Environment and Resource Management built a predator proof fence around the wombat habitat at Epping Forest National Park (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). Volunteers, scientists and park rangers are the only people permitted in the park to prevent the wombats from being disturbed (The Wombat Foundation 2013). |
Competition:
Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats face competition for food against introduced species such as cattle, sheep and rabbits (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). The Epping Forest National Park is now fenced to keep out cattle and sheep (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). Wombat’s population in the Epping Forest National Park also have to compete with the native eastern grey kangaroo (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) was introduced for cattle feed (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). It is an invasive species and has become widespread over much of northern and inland Australia (The Wombat Foundation 2013). Buffel grass competes with native grasses and limits favoured food as well as increasing the energy expenditure to get to preferred food (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). Bush fires:
Bush fires can occur regularly and can pose a serious threat to the wombat due to the loss of food supply (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). Wombats can protect themselves from the fire by hiding in their burrows, however a loss of food supply can create major problems (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). The devastating effects of bush fires could be controlled by maintaining a good fire break system and burning sections of the parks in which they live periodically (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). Flooding:
Flooding can be a deadly hazard to burrowing animals (Australian Government Department of the Environment 2011). As Australia’s climate is known to be brutal and unpredictable floods can have dramatic effects if a wombats burrow is located in low-lying areas (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). |
Recovery Stratergies
Recovery strategies:
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For further information please click here
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Population history
Early 20th century:
After the only 2 populations of Northern Hairy-nosed wombats known at the time disappeared in the 20th century, it was thought that this species went extinct (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
1930’s:
A small population of Northern Hairy-nosed wombats was found in the 1930’s in Epping Forest National Park (The Wombat Foundation 2013). This population showed that it was decreasing (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
1971:
The Epping Forest National Park was established to protect the last population of Northern Hairy-nosed wombats. At the time their population contained approximately 35 individuals (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
Mid 1980’s:
By the mid 1980’s the number of individuals had increased to approximately 65 (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
Late 1990’s:
A series of droughts over a 5-year period caused the population numbers to decrease (The Wombat Foundation 2013 & Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). When the drought broke the population recovered (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
Today:
The latest census in 2010 estimates that there are 200 individuals over the 2 populations in Epping Forest Nation Park and the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013).
After the only 2 populations of Northern Hairy-nosed wombats known at the time disappeared in the 20th century, it was thought that this species went extinct (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
1930’s:
A small population of Northern Hairy-nosed wombats was found in the 1930’s in Epping Forest National Park (The Wombat Foundation 2013). This population showed that it was decreasing (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
1971:
The Epping Forest National Park was established to protect the last population of Northern Hairy-nosed wombats. At the time their population contained approximately 35 individuals (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
Mid 1980’s:
By the mid 1980’s the number of individuals had increased to approximately 65 (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
Late 1990’s:
A series of droughts over a 5-year period caused the population numbers to decrease (The Wombat Foundation 2013 & Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013). When the drought broke the population recovered (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
Today:
The latest census in 2010 estimates that there are 200 individuals over the 2 populations in Epping Forest Nation Park and the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge (Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection 2013).
Husbandry
Currently there are no Northern Hairy-nosed wombats in captivity (The Wombat Foundation 2013). The wombat is a nocturnal and shy creature and as a consequence little is known about Northern Hairy-nosed wombat husbandry (The Wombat Foundation 2013). From observations in the wild the species requires an environment with deep sandy soils and a year-round supply of grass (The Wombat Foundation 2013).
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