Animal Diaries Archive

Who is missing?

19 October 2007

In this picture, we see two beautiful wombats. The one pictured left is a three year old Common Wombat or Vombatus Urisinus. The one to the right is a three year old Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat or Lasiorhinus Latifrons. Two very different species of wombat, these lovely girls live with us here at Australia zoo enjoying a lifestyle that ensures happiness, safety and lots of love. What you will not see in this picture however, or at any zoo or wildlife park across the globe is the third and rarest species of wombat in Australia. An animal which is one of the worlds most critically endangered animals with less than 120 individuals left on the planet. This beautiful marsupial is none other, than the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat or Lasiorhinus Krefftii.

Wombats have a historical lineage that spans almost 25 million years and are renown for their ability to elude would be researchers. Wombats even managed to remain undiscovered for almost a decade after European settlement. Being a marsupial, they give birth to highly undeveloped young and nurture it in an external pouch. Wombats belong to the order vombatidae, of which only one other species belong, the koala. What sets the wombat apart from other marsupials is its ability to burrow underground and manipulate the earth in such a way that a very complex yet safe underground haven is created. They also have an unusual set of teeth that continually grow, most likely an evolutionary answer to their harsh diet.

Wombats are stocky, thick set creatures that are generally solitary in nature and who seem wise beyond their years. A diet consisting primarily of native sedges and grasses sees them spend the bulk of their evening peacefully grazing from one tuft to the next.

Do not however be fooled by this cumbersome persona, wombats can run up to 40kmph and their sharp teeth accompanied with immense jaw pressure make them something not to be trifled with! Coming in a variety of colours and personalities, the wombat can give one the illusion of a cheeky child getting up to mischief, particularly while watching a big bottom and little pigeon feet disappearing down a burrow!