A young wombat has been filmed wandering through a patch of woodland at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge in south-west Queensland.
Unlike most of the wombats sighted in Australia, this broad-nose, pointy-eared juvenile is a northern hairy-nosed wombat. There are only 400 of them in the world, making them rarer than the giant panda and the Sumatran tiger. Most Australians are unlikely to ever see one in the wild.
Ecologists at Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) say the video footage provides exciting evidence wombats are breeding in the refuge again.
The northern hairy-nosed wombat – or 'Yaminon’ – is the largest burrowing mammal in the world. With a distinctive broad nose, pointy ears, soft greyish fur and faint black eye patches, it's also one of the most charismatic.
The remarkable sighting at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge (RUNR) was made by Andy Howe, Australian Wildlife Conservancy Senior Field Ecologist, who spotted the rare wombat as he was scrolling through over a 100 hours of motion-sensor footage.
The juvenile can be seen emerging from an active burrow in the eastern portion of the refuge.
The cameras were set up across the nature refuge to improve data and knowledge of the species by recording their activity, behaviour and signs of reproduction.
“It’s very gratifying to know that one of the world’s most critically endangered animals is doing well and breeding within the safety of the fenced area,” says Howe.
“Although this isn’t the first joey born at the refuge, it is the first juvenile spotted for a few years. Knowing the work we at AWC are doing is actively contributing to the recovery of this species, really warms the heart.”
Howe says that the smooth coat and lack of obvious injuries suggests the juvenile is in good health. It's probably a joey, Howe guesses, though he admits he can't be certain.
“The wombat is quite robust, indicating that it is feeding well and getting enough nutrition,” Howe explains.
"Overall, this bit of footage tells us a lot about the state of the RUNR population, showing us that the wombats have the right conditions and feel comfortable enough to breed.”
Why is the northern hairy-nosed wombat so rare?
The northern hairy-nosed wombat could once be found from southern New South Wales through to central Queensland, but clearing of their preferred open eucalypt woodland habitat for grazing, competition with livestock and rabbits, and predation through the 20th century led to a dramatic decline in populations.
By 1982, the species had been restricted to a single population of just 35 individuals at Epping Forest National Park in Queensland.
In 2009, a second colony of the rare wombat was established at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge; and in 2024, a third colony was created at Powrunna State Forest.
What's next for northern hairy-nosed wombats?
Next, AWC hope to implement a fire management strategy to reduce fuel loads, control the spread of weeds such as buffel grass, tiger pear and pricky pear, maintain the fence line and improve food resources for the wombat by preventing large feral herbivore incursions.
AWC will also develop a Genetic Management Plan with the University of Adelaide by collecting and analysing wombat hair from burrow entrances – this research will be critical to inform future translocations for the species.
“Government funding enables AWC and its partners to improve the trajectory of the species by reducing key threats, commencing a genetic management plan and increasing data knowledge – all of which will support a growing and sustainable population at RUNR and hopefully, assist with the establishment of future populations,” concludes Andy.
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