In addition to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of southern hairy–nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons), the Wombat Awareness Organization is working to prevent culling of the iconic species in South Australia. The innovative Wombat Mitigation Program helps local farmers protect grazing land, remove invasive species and co-exist with the wombats.
Status of Southern Hairy–Nosed Wombats in Australia
Unlike the critically endangered northern hairy–nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii), the IUCN lists the southern hairy–nosed wombat as Least Concern due to their large population, which is widely distributed throughout its range. But the report also lists severe habitat fragmentation, sarcoptic mange outbreaks, susceptibility to drought and competition from introduced rabbits and domestic livestock as threats to these southern wombats. And populations in the Murraylands have declined by 70 – 80% as a result of droughts in the early 1990s according to Dr David Taggart.
Southern Hairy–nosed Wombat in Conflict With Agriculture Community
The powerful burrowing ability of the southern hairy–nosed wombat has led to the species being treated as a pest by local farmers. These Australian marsupials are attracted to disturbed earth when burrowing. New fence lines are often damaged by wombats, who take advantage of the newly turned earth for easier digging. Farm machinery may be damaged when driven over wombat burrows.
Culling programs and burrow destruction are the most common methods local farmers use to deal with the damage wombat burrowing causes. Shooting and the use of pesticides are also used. But there is some evidence that culling does not prevent wombat numbers from increasing (Tartowski and Stelmann, 1998).
Wombat Mitigation Program Works on Managing Conflict With Local Farmers
Conflict resolution in the Australian countryside involves reducing the impact that southern hairy–nosed wombats have on agricultural lands. Wombat Awareness Organization provides a variety of free services to local farmers as part of their Wombat Mitigation Program.:
- Fence repair: Car tires or concrete pipes, are used to create Wombat Walkways, reducing the burrowing activity along fence lines and filling gaps created by burrowing activity
- Revegetation of creek banks: Reducing ongoing damage and controlling along waterways
- Negotiating safe areas for wombats: Local farmers determine areas where wombat burrows would be acceptable. The Wombat Mitigation Program then removes debris and farm materials, creating a clean entrance to the burrow, turning soil to encourage the wombats to move to the new burrows.
- Education on conflict prevention: teaching local farmers how to identify and remove potential new burrows before they become a problem. Reinforcing the positive aspects of wombats in the environment.
- Free rabbit control: While wombat burrows are a hazard, wombats do not compete with farm animals for food sources. Introduced rabbits, which inhabit wombat burrows are food competitors. By providing free rabbit removal, this secondary problem created by the presence of wombat burrows is eliminated.
Progress of Wombat Mitigation Program as of 2010
The initial trial by Wombat Awareness Organization involved 72 farms. Within three months, wombats on several farms had moved into the newly created burrows in safe areas. The rabbit removal program is gaining popularity. Trained ferrets are used to drive the rabbits out of the burrows into traps. The rabbits are then humanely killed and the meat is sold, creating income for the trappers and removing an invasive pest species from the Australian countryside.
It is much easier to enlist local farmers in the protection of native wildlife when their livelihood is taken into consideration. By creating a program whereby the interests of both agriculture and wildlife are taken into account, Wombat Awareness Organization has gained the support of the community in preventing the southern hairy–nosed wombat from the fate of the northern species.
Other sources:
Stevens, Brigitte M. 2010. Wombat Mitigation Program in: Proceedings of the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference SA. Accessed August 2010
Tartowski, S., and J. Stelmann. 1998. Effect of discontinuing culling on the estimated number of southern hairy-nosed wombats Lasiorhinus latifrons. Pages 206-217 in R. T. Wells and P. A. Pridmore, editors. Wombats. Chipping Norton, New South Wales: Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney, Australia.
Dawn M. Smith - A vet nurse, Dawn has worked in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation around the world in addition to her veterinary hospital ...
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