About Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats

The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat is critically endangered with only 115 surviving in the last wild population at Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) in central Queensland.

There are no Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats currently in captivity because wombat husbandry is not well understood and, so far, wombats have not been reliably bred in captivity.

We've put a bit of information together so that you can learn a whole lot more about Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats and their:

• Species
• Distribution
• Habitat requirements
• Diet, activity and behaviour
• Burrows
• Population dynamics and reproduction
• Threats
• 20 fast facts

Species

The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii, is the largest herbivorous burrowing mammal in the world. It is a nocturnal marsupial that is only found in Australia. The NH wombat is the largest member of the family Vombatidae which contains two other wombat species: the common wombat, Vombatus ursinus, and southern hairy-nosed wombat, L. latifrons. Adult NH wombats may grow as large as 40 kg but the average adult weight is 32 kg. Females are slightly heavier and larger than males. Longevity in the wild is unknown but the oldest known wild NH wombat was at least 23 years old when captured during 2006.

Distribution

The NH wombat previously inhabited open woodlands in the semi-arid zone of eastern Australia. The species is now represented by only a single population of 115 individuals on Epping Forest NP in central Queensland. The current range of the species on the Park is estimated at only 500 ha. Historically, NH wombats have only been collected at two other localities: the Moonie River area in southern Queensland and Deniliquin near the New South Wales-Victoria border.

Habitat requirements

The species’ key habitat requirements are the presence of deep sandy soils in which to construct burrows and the availability of a year-round supply of grass.

Diet, activity, and behaviour

The diet of the NH wombat consists almost entirely of grass. In the past this would have been purely native grasses but it now includes introduced buffel grass which is favoured by the cattle industry in central Queensland

Above-ground activity is closely related to ambient air temperature and is usually undertaken in darkness, except in winter when NH wombats will sun themselves at dawn and dusk and sometimes forage during the day. NH wombats spend an average of 6 hours above ground per night in the dry season and forage over a relatively small area of only about 6 ha. Wet season feeding range size is halved and activity decreases to about 2 hours per night.

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Burrows

The burrows of NH wombats are usually constructed under trees whose roots provide support in the soft, sandy soil and whose crowns provide shade. Burrows are arranged in groups which are used by 4-5 wombats. Large burrows have up to 10 entrances, may be 3.6 m deep and contain more than 100 m of tunnels. Adjacent burrows are connected by well worn paths and active burrows are regularly 'sign-posted' with dung and urine. Burrows are occupied by a single wombat 70% of the time. Burrow sharing may occur in the larger, multi-entrance burrows and usually involves females rather than a male and female. Although casual movements between burrow groups are rare, at least half of adult females change burrow groups at some time in their lives. This behaviour helps prevent inbreeding and is probably a form of maternal investment, whereby mothers leave their burrows to their young who would be too small to head off and construct their own.

Population dynamics and reproduction

Demographic and life‑history data are difficult to obtain on the NH wombat because of its burrowing and nocturnal habit, its reluctance to be trapped, and the absence of any individuals in captivity. When Epping Forest National Park was established to protect the last population, the population contain as few as 35 individuals. Numbers increased to about 65 in the mid-1980s and remained that way until the late 1990s after a series of droughts. When the drought broke, numbers increased to their current level of 115. During the 1990s, the sex ratio was strongly biased towards males, however, this has returned to parity recently.

The number of females breeding in any one year correlates closely with summer rainfall. Most young are born in the wet season (November to April). Research on the closely related southern hairy-nosed wombat, L. latifrons, has shown that gestation lasts for 21 days and a single young is usually born. Pouch life ranges from 8-9 months and is followed by a 3-6 month period when the young initially remains in the burrow while the mother goes out to feed and then follows her when she is above ground. Weaning occurs around 12 months.

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Threats

The available evidence suggests that the NH wombat was uncommon prior to its very rapid decline since the arrival of Europeans in Australia. Competition with cattle, sheep and rabbits in combination with drought appear to be the main factors contributing to the species’ decline.

The current major threat to the Epping Forest population is its small size which makes it vulnerable to local catastrophes (such as disease or wildfire), inbreeding and the subsequent loss of genetic variation. In addition, competition with native herbivores, and predation by dingoes pose potential threats to the wombat population. In 2002, a 20 km dingo-proof fence was constructed around all wombat habitat at Epping Forest National Park following predation by dingoes t6hat resulted in the deaths of up to 20 wombats.

20 Fast Facts about Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats

1. The northern hairy-nosed wombat is the largest herbivorous burrowing mammal in the world.
2. There are only 115 northern hairy-nosed wombats left in thw world.
3. All 115 NH wombat wombats are protected on Epping Forest National Park.
4. Northern hairy-nosed wombats disappeared rapidly after the introduction of sheep, cattle and rabbits into Australia by European settlers. These animals competed wit the wombats for grass, especially during droughts, which are common in northern hairy-nosed wombat country.
5. The goal of the 2004-2008 recovery plan is to achieve a total population of 150 NH wombats in two wild populations and at least one captive population.
6. Northern hairy-nosed wombats prefer semi-arid grasslands on sandy soil which is suitable for burrowing.
7. Northern hairy-nosed wombat burrows reach depths of nearly 4 m. Large multi-entrance burrows can contain more than 100 m of tunnels.
8. Northern hairy-nosed wombats eat almost 100% grass.
9. Most permanent NH wombat burrows are constructed under large trees whose roots help provide stability for the burrow in the sandy soil that is typical of wombat habitat.
10. Female northern hairy-nosed wombats are larger than males
11. Wombats can run short distances at speeds of up to 40 km/hr.
12. Northern hairy-nosed wombats have poor eyesight. Their strongest senses are smell and hearing.
13. There are 3 species of wombat in Australia – two hairy-nosed species – the northern and southern hairy-nosed wombat – and the common wombat.
14. The NH wombat is the largest of the 3 species of wombat, reaching weights of 40 kg, but averaging 32 kg.
15. The oldest wild NH wombat was at least 23 years old. A NH wombat was in captivity for more than 30 years before it died.
16. One young is usually born but twins are sometimes reported. Western Plains Zoo successfully raised twin common wombats several years ago.
17. Pouch life is usually 8-9 months, followed by up to six months where the young wombat stays close to its mother.
18. To avoid inbreeding, female NH wombats usually undertake long-distance dispersal at least once in their lifetime. In most mammal species this is undertaken by young males. It is believed that female wombats do this to leave their burrow to their young which would find it hard to construct their own burrow.
19. In 2000-01, dingoes killed up to 20 northern hairy-nosed wombats. This necessitated building a 20 km dingo-proof fence around all wombat habitat on Epping Forest NP, home of the last population.
20. The NH wombat lives in an extreme climate – winter temperatures can fall below 0 degrees celsius and summer temperatures regularly exceed 40 degrees celsius.

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