2009 ARAZPA Research Award

The nocturnal, cryptic and semi-underground nature of hairy-nosed wombats means there is a lack of knowledge on the life history, biology and behaviour of these species, and few published studies. In the case of the northern hairy-nosed wombat this has been further compounded by their endangered status, remote location and limited distribution.

Zoos SA has now conducted over a decade of research on southern hairy-nosed wombats looking at:

• survey and capture methods
• burrow usage
• burrow requirements within a home range
• timing of breeding
• growth and development of pouch young
• developing techniques for collection and freezing of sperm
• cross-fostering trials
• trialling super-ovulation and artificial insemination
• population size and effects of inbreeding on fertility
• surveys of wombat distribution
• population genetics
• translocation trials
• impact of seasonal variation on population dynamics
• the use of anti-oxidant levels as an indicator of animal health
• the incidence of mange in wombats and trialling treatments for this disease
• nutrition - seasonal changes in diet

Little was known about either the northern or southern hairy-nosed wombat species when this research program was initiated. Southern hairy-nosed wombats were once common in SA, but populations are now fragmented due to agriculture and changes in land management practices.  For the northern hairy-nosed wombat the situation is even grimmer, with fewer than 100 animals remaining in a single population in remote central Queensland.

The limited number of northern hairy-nosed wombats meant the collection of data on basic biology and life history from which to improve captive breeding, develop assisted reproductive techniques or get base line data on animal health and disease seemed hopeless.  The next best option was to gather this data on its sister species, the southern hairy-nosed wombat, with the view to better understanding the northern.

Results from the study have also helped to inform management plans for the southern hairy-nosed wombats, a species which has frequently come into conflict with farmers.  In addition treatment methods have been trialled to determine how best to aid populations suffering from the effects of sarcoptic mange, an external parasite that damages the animal's skin.

More details of the conservation project can be found here.