Northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii
What do they look like?
Photo: DERM
When wombats walk, their long behinds sway from side to side. This feature, combined with a large head and habits such as curling up to rest on their sides or sitting on their haunches with their forepaws folded in front, make wombats seem to be slow and clumsy.
However, appearances are deceptive. Wombats can move fast — up to 40 km/h over a short distance! They are also able to survive long harsh droughts which are fatal to other animals.
Photos: DERM
Wombats are heavily built animals with a broad head and short legs. They have strong claws to dig their burrows where they live much of the time.
Australia has three species of wombat.
Northern hairy nosed wombat
As the largest of the three wombats, the northern hairy-nosed wombat can weigh up to 40 kg and be more than one metre long. Compared with the common wombat, hairy-nosed wombats have softer fur, longer and more pointed ears and a broader muzzle fringed with fine whiskers. They are generally nocturnal but have been seen sunning themselves in the late afternoon winter/autumn sun.
Common wombat
Common wombats have a bare pointed nose, small ears and coarser brown fur. Common Wombats are nocturnal during the summer, but in winter often come out of their burrows during the day.
Southern hairy nosed wombat
The southern hairy-nosed wombat is the smallest wombat species. It has a broad hairy-nose, long ears and soft grey-brown fur. Southern hairy-nosed wombats are the most arid-adapted wombats.
Wombat species distribution
What is its conservation status?
The northern hairy-nosed wombat is the most endangered mammal living in Queensland.
The northern hairy-nosed wombat is listed as:
- Endangered under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992;
- Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Critically Endangered under the World Conservation Union’s Redlist of Threatened Species, which lists species at a global level.
It might have already been in decline when Europeans settled, and was probably the least common of the three wombat species at that time.
Since then, competition for food from introduced grazing animals — particularly during droughts — has probably added to the wombat's decline.
How many of them are there?
In October 2007, the fifth census of the northern hairy-nosed wombat population based on genotyping of remotely-collected hairs was done. Hair tapes were set at 139 burrows over a period of 7 nights, and from each night 60 hair samples were randomly selected for DNA extraction in the field. These extracts were sent to Monash University where genotyping and further analysis took place. Extracts were genotyped at a sexing locus and seven autosomal markers: L12, 67CA, 68CA, 54CA, K32, K19 and K9 (Beheragaray et al. 2000). There was a significant delay in the analysis.
The results of this survey were then subjected to mark-recapture analysis giving an estimate of the population size at the time of sampling at 138.
The increase in population was expected because there had been evidence of good recruitment since 2005. That evidence included direct observation of juveniles, burrow monitoring and camera monitoring. Additionally, good summer rainfall which was experienced in 2006 and 2007 is closely correlated to the breeding rate.
Of the female genotypes detected only 10 match those of previously trapped females, suggesting the majority of the population are individuals born since the last major trapping surveys of the mid 1990’s.
Hair on the tape
Photo:DERM
Before DNA was used as a census tool trapping surveys were used.
Thanks are due to the Wombat Foundation and FAME (Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Animals) who sponsored the sampling and the analysis.
Burrow activity monitoring at Epping Forest –
Anyone home?
Photo: DERM
An indirect measure of population is the number of burrows. There are now over 300 burrows.
This provides information on the level of activity and which areas are being used by wombats and is undertaken on a regular basis. It involves determining recent activity at burrows based on the presence of fresh foot prints and faeces. Seeing small prints can provide good information on presence of young animals. The last burrow monitoring was undertaken in November 2008.
Where do they live?
Fossil records show this species was once widespread, living in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. But since European settlement, these wombats have only been found in three areas — the Deniliquin area in south New South Wales, the Moonie River area in south Queensland, and Epping Forest.
The species was first described in 1872 but was first known when identified from a fossil skull found in New South Wales in 1869. Four specimens were taken from an isolated colony discovered in NSW in 1884 but there is no record of this population after 1909. Three specimens were collected between 1891 and 1900 at two sites near St George, southern Queensland; Bullamon Plains on the Moonie River and the Balonne River. Other reports suggest that NHWs also occurred near Injune and Tambo. It seems no wombats occurred in Queensland after 1900 except for a small population discovered at Epping Forest station in 1937.
Photo: DERM
All northern hairy-nosed wombats now live in Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) in inland central Queensland, which was gazetted in 1974. Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) is 3160 hectares. Not all of the area is suitable for habitat as some of the park’s soils are heavy clays, which aren’t suitable for burrows.
Wombats like to burrow in deep, sandy soils along dry creek beds. They dig with their forepaws, throwing loose sand behind. They then walk backwards out of their burrow to bulldoze the sand clear. Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) has an old tributary of Fox Creek passing north south through it. This provides good digging conditions.
A ‘runway’ into a wombat burrow.
Photo: DERM
A northern hairy-nosed wombat will mark its burrow with dung and splashes of urine. A burrow can be spotted by the mound of dug-out sand at the entrance, which can be one metre high and more than two metres long. Burrows are often but not always associated with Bauhina trees.
A burrow tunnel can be up to 20 metres long and three-and-a-half metres underground. But it's only just wide enough for a wombat to pass — at a little less than half a metre.
Well-formed 'runways' are dug through the mound and into the tunnel. Wombats maintain several approaches to their burrows, each in a different direction.
Up to 10 wombats with an equal number of males and females live in each group of burrows. Females often share burrows but males mostly stay alone.
Burrows are popular with other animals such as swamp wallabies and goannas, which use the burrows to rest in during hot weather.
What do they eat?
Epping Forest wombats eat native and some introduced grasses. They eat leaves rather than stems, which provide the wombat with good nutrition.
The wombat's cool, humid burrow helps it to conserve energy. The wombat will only come out to feed at night and only when it's not too cold or too hot and dry.
They usually feed for six hours a night in winter and two hours in summer. By comparison, an eastern grey kangaroo of similar size feeds for about 18 hours a day!
Radio-tracking has shown wombats feed over a fairly small area for an animal of their size — about 27 ha.
They can be pretty casual about their feeding, as wombats don't need to feed all night or every night.
Winter (dry season) feeding areas are larger than summer (wet season) areas due to the lower availability of food. There is no difference in size between the areas used by males and females.
Wombats continue to grow all their life. The wombat's teeth grow from the roots at the same rate they are worn through use. This means even a very old wombat still has all its strong teeth and is capable of grinding its food very finely.
Feed and water station.
Photo: DERM
Even in droughts, adult northern hairy-nosed wombats stay in generally good health and body condition. This is because of their ability to conserve energy and water in the stable environment of their burrows and by only venturing out when conditions are optimal.
And compared with other native animals such as kangaroos, wombats live for a long time. Their lifespan is estimated at more than 22 years.
Pouch young – photo from
the 1980’s – one leg visible
Photo: DERM
How do they breed?
At Epping Forest, most young are born in summer between November and April. They're in the pouch for six to nine months, then stay in the burrows when their mothers go out to feed. The exact time young wombats spend with their mothers is unknown, but it's probably about one year.
Young wombats start fending for themselves during summer. In good years, between 50 and 80 percent of females breed, giving birth to one wombat at a time.
And while breeding rates fell during droughts in the early part of the 1990s, better than average rainfall at Epping Forest National Park from 1996 to 2000 has turned things around. In recent years water and supplementary feed have been provided to the wombats and burrow monitoring has indicated, based on the size of footprints and dung at burrows, that we now have a significant number of young wombats in the population.
Aerial photo of Epping Forest National Park
Photo DERM.
Where are they seen?
Sorry. To make sure these endangered wombats aren't disturbed, only scientists and park rangers can enter Epping Forest National Park (Scientific).
What are the threats to the species?
The greatest threat to the northern hairy-nosed wombat's survival is the low number of wombats and the fact that all occur in one population.
A major threat was predation. In 2000 and 2001, despite the presence of a regular baiting program, ten adult northern hairy-nosed wombats were killed by wild dogs. This equates to nearly 10 per cent of the population at that time! In response to this threat, DERM built a dingo-proof fence around all wombat habitat on Epping Forest NP in 2002 to permanently protect the population.
Flooding at Epping National Park in January 2008
Photo DERM.
Other threats to the population are disease such as toxoplasmosis (found in cat faeces) or mange and while cattle may have contributed to the decline of the wombat through competition for food, this threat has been removed by excluding cattle from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific).
Floods are also a potential threat. In January 2008 Epping Forest National Park was isolated by the floodwaters that covered much of central Queensland. The Belyando River normally flows some 10km to the west of Epping Forest, but at the flood’s peak the park was in the middle of a vast inland sea, with water from the river flowing through the western boundary. Anxious DERM officers conducted a helicopter inspection during the flood and after the flood and were relieved to find the fence appeared to have withstood the force of the flood and that most of the wombat burrows appeared to be on elevated ground above the water level.
Fire management at Epping Forest National Park
Fire management - the challenge of fire
Photo DERM.
Australian ecosystems have been evolving with fire for thousands of years. The presence of fire is important for many species and communities and for others it is detrimental. The management of fire for different ecosystems is very challenging with timing, frequency and intensity of fire being important. Today natural areas require fire management to retain their biological diversity.
Photo DERM.
Conditions in September 2008 prompted staff to implement an approved planned burn in a section of the park where the wombats occur. The fire was a success resulting in a mosaic of burned and unburned areas. There was evidence that wombats had been rolling in the ashes and interestingly this same behaviour was reported by a staff member some years ago.
The threat of fire for wombats is not the fire itself – they are well protected in their deep burrows – it is the burning of their food. The mosaic of burned and unburned areas is therefore important.
Xstrata reintroduction project
Follow our progress here:
Trapping Session Three
Trapping Session Two
Trapping Session One
Why are we trying this?
There is a significant risk that one natural event such as fire or flood could wipe out the entire species. Therefore, a second colony is needed to minimise the risk of extinction.
There is a real risk that this reintroduction project will not succeed and that individual animals may not survive, however the effort must be made to overcome the greater risk to the population. Every effort will be made to reduce the risk to every wombat involved in the reintroduction project.
The reintroduction of wombats to a new site is a specific objective of the recovery plan for the northern hairy-nosed wombat Lasiorhinus kreftii 2004-2008.
Xstrata’s role
Photo: DERM
Xstrata, a leading mining company has sponsored the reintroduction project as part of their Community Partnerships Program which supports initiatives in the areas of health, education environment, arts and culture, social and community development, and enterprise and job creation.
Xstrata Coal’s Chief Executive Peter Freyherg has said “I am very proud that Xstrata is playing a significant role in helping protect the future of the northern hairy-nosed wombat. This is an extremely important conservation project and we are delighted to have partnered with DERM to make such a substantial contribution…”
Xstrata’s generous sponsorship of the northern hairy-nosed wombat reintroduction project was acknowledged by Minister for Sustainability Climate Change and Innovation, the Hon. Andrew McNamara at a gala dinner and prestigious awards ceremony held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on 31 October 2008.
Patrick Collins, General Manager Corporate Affairs and Community Relations, Xstrata Zinc accepted a framed certificate of appreciation from Minister McNamara at the third EPA Sustainable Industries Awards function.
Project description
The purpose of the reintroduction project is to establish a second colony of northern hairy-nosed wombats.
Trapping for wombats will be undertaken in March/April 2009 and up to fifteen animals will be fitted with radio tracking collars. Trapping success will determine exact numbers and it is likely less than twelve will be identified as suitable for translocation.
Up to twelve collared wombats will be recaptured in winter 2009 (June – August) and transported to the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge near St George.
As soon as a wombat is caught it will be anaesthetised and examined by a vet to ensure it is healthy enough to be transported and released at the reintroduction site. It will then be put into a travel box and placed in a quiet location until it is transported to the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. Once there the animal will then be barricaded in a starter burrow for the daytime and will be free to leave the burrow that night.
More details of the project can be found here.
Richard Underwood Nature Refuge: The establishment of a new colony
A suitable site, with the right soils, vegetation and landscape to support the wombat population, has been found at Yarran Downs near St George in southern Queensland. St George is the type locality for the northern hairy-nosed wombat.
The reintroduction location was chosen based on four studies undertaken to investigate potential suitable habitat for northern hairy-nosed wombats (Cox 1998, Lees 2002, Wormington 2004 and Forster 2007). The studies incorporated satellite imagery, soil, landform and regional ecosystem mapping, site visits for vegetation and soil testing.
Photo: DERM
The owners of Yarran Downs, Ed and Gabi Underwood have entered into a Nature Refuge agreement over the part of their property where the wombats will be reintroduced. Their nature refuge, the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge was gazetted on the 27 November 1008 and protects about 105ha of eucalypt woodland on old river levees.
The release site is currently being prepared for the reintroduction and includes:
- Installation of management infrastructure.
- Installation of a predator-proof fence to prevent the entry of wild dogs, feral cats and foxes. During erection of the fence predators and competitors will be excluded from the reintroduction site.
- Installation of supplementary feed and water stations.
- Installation of wombat monitoring equipment, such as remote cameras tracking devices and weighing stations.
- Construction of wombat starter burrows.
Photo: DERM
The first reintroduction is planned to occur in the winter of 2009 and pending its success a following batch of wombats will be moved in the winter of 2010. Ethics approval has been gained for the 2009 work.
The fence is being constructed by Conservation Volunteers Australia after initial work done by Ed Underwood.
Research and monitoring
Wombats are periodically captured in specially designed traps to monitor health, body condition and breeding status.
When a wombat is caught, a small blood sample is taken. The wombat is weighed, measured, ear-tattooed, examined for reproductive status and then released. The blood sample is used to find out family lineages and to assess levels of inbreeding.
Research into the wombat's habitat includes attempts to improve the quality of food by burning, slashing and fertilising feeding areas. Long-term monitoring programs are designed to find out whether changes are occurring in the type of food over time.
Other research projects include a study of the environment and architecture of northern hairy-nosed wombat burrows, the development of translocation techniques and now with improved camera monitoring technology there will be greater opportunity to study wombat behaviour.
How can you help?
DERM is working hard to protect this species and to determine strategies to prevent its extinction.
Respecting all wildlife in their natural habitat will ensure this endangered animal, and all other animals, get a fair go.
Continuing research and management studies, and establishing other wild populations should help to ensure the animal's survival and long-term future.
Buy a T-shirt to spread the message
Further information
On the evening of 2 March 2009, DERM Officers took TIME magazine photographer Warren Evans, his camera, and a spotlight on a mission to find the endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat holed up on Epping Forest National Park in central Queensland, Australia. What they saw was extraordinary.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1884854,00.html
Media release - Northern hairy-nosed Wombats – 115 and counting
Media release - Endangered wombat thrown a lifeline
Media release - Wombats on the move
Northern hairy-nosed wombat games and puzzles
Download the fact sheet
Wombats of Australia
Download the poster
The northern hairy-nosed wombat
Department of Environment and Resource Management
PO Box 15155,
CITY EAST QLD 4002
Ph 1300 130 372
Email info@epa.qld.gov.au
Last updated: 26 May 2009
