Ecologists at Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) were ecstatic when they captured rare footage of a critically endangered, juvenile Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat strolling around Richard Underwood Nature Refuge (RUNR) in south-west Queensland. With only 400 individuals remaining in the world, every single wombat sighting counts.
One of Australia's rarest mammals, there are only three populations of the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat remaining in Epping Forest National Park (Scientific), a newly introduced population at Powrunna State Forest, and the RUNR site. All three populations are protected by Queensland Government's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) with AWC overseeing the management of RUNR's wombats as part of a historic agreement with DESI and the property owners signed in 2023.
Watch the video here: Rare footage of a juvenile, critically endangered wombat – YouTube
Andy Howe, AWC Senior Field Ecologist, was scrolling through over 100 hours of motion-sensor footage captured on the eastern portion of the refuge, when the young wombat emerged from an active burrow on the screen. Pumped by the discovery, Andy said it was a delight to see evidence of the wombats breeding in the refuge again.
"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," said Andy. "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."
AWC Based on the footage, Andy believes the juvenile to be in good health with a smooth consistent coat and no obvious signs of injury. Although it is difficult to determine the wombat's age, Andy believes the individual to be a joey that was detected as a large pouch young at the start of 2023.
"The wombat is quite robust indicating that it is feeding well and getting enough nutrition," added Andy. "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."
Motion-sensor cameras are set up across the nature refuge to improve data and knowledge of the species by recording their activity, behaviour and signs of reproduction. This work is supported by a federal grant from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's Saving Native Species (priority species) program, which has enabled AWC to expand research and management of RUNR's population.
Brad Leue/AWC The grant of $384,000 over the next year-and-a-half will also help AWC deliver outcomes that align with the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat Recovery Action Plan. This includes the development of 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," explained Andy.
AWC All management and research results will be shared with the relevant regional and scientific groups as well as partners at DESI, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and The Wombat Foundation via the Recovery Team. AWC intends for findings to support other Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat projects including future translocations.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government Saving Native Species Program.
