Endangered Australian Marsupials
The Australian Wombat
An overview

Wombat Distribution Map (courtesy wombania.com, used with permission)
Wombats
Expert excavators
Wombats are frequently killed by cars, and oftentimes they'll have a joey (baby wombat) in their pouch. If discovered in time, these orphaned young wombats can be successfully raised by licensed carers until they reach adulthood. They are then released back into the bush and soon revert to their wild state. Although young wombats can be affectionate, adult wombats tend to be territorial and aggressive, and can be quite dangerous due to their strength, speed, and sharp claws and teeth.
Wombadilliac Videos
Videos of orphaned wombats
Types of Wombats
- The Common wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
- The Southern Hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons)
- The Northern Hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii)
Common Wombat
Bulldozer of the bush
Common wombats that exist on Flinders Island and Tasmania are somewhat smaller than their mainland cousins are sometimes classified as separate subspecies. (Vombatus ursinus tasmaniensis for the Tasmania wombats, and Vombatus ursinus ursinus for the Flinders Island wombats.)
Common wombats live in forests and coastal areas and prefer wetter, cooler regions. They are grazers and eat grasses, roots, fungi, mosses, leaves, and bark. Having very efficient digestive systems, they require very little water.
Plush Wombats & Wombat Toys
Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat
Southern Hairy-nosed wombats can be found along the Southern coast of South Australia and the South-eastern coast of Western Australia. They live in much drier areas than the Common wombat, and prefer grass plains and savanahs. Their burrows are also more complex, consisting of numerous tunnels interconnected with the burrows of other wombats. Five to ten wombats will live in these underground complexes, spending most of their time alone.
They prefer spear grass as their main food, though they are grazers and will eat other foods like leaves and roots.
Southern Hairy-nosed wombats are considered an endangered species.
Hairy-Nosed Wombat Videos
Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat
Critically endangered
Physically they look similar their Southern cousins, though they are larger and can grow to over a metre (39 inches) in length and up to 40 kg (88 lbs). They tend to have wider muzzles, and darker colouration around their eyes.
Conservation efforts, led by the Wombat Foundation, will hopefully be able to save the Northern wombat before it's too late. They're working on breeding programs and are planning to establish a second colony of wombats at another location to help guard against any natural disaster which could befall the original colony.
Wombat Day
A special day to honour the wombat
Wombat T-shirts & Gift Items
Team Wombat III White T-Shirt
The best-selling Team Wombat design, in red & black. Also available in 5 other color combinations, and on dozens of other products.
Wombat Crossing Tee-Shirt Dark
Classic wombat crossing road sign. Other wombat sign designs also available.
Wombat Logo II Light T-Shirt
Wombat graphic tee makes a great gift for anyone who likes wombats. Many other products feature this design, including hats, mugs, buttons, magnets, posters, and more.
Wombat Patrol II Yellow T-Shirt
Wombat Patrol logo for the adventurous wombat wrangler. Available on many other colors and styles of t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies.
Wombat Love Women's Light T-Shirt
Proclaim your wombat love with this wombat heart design. Pink heart version also available.
Wombat Non-fiction Books
Wombat Children's Books (Fiction)
Wombat References
- The Wombat Information Center
- In-depth information and pictures of all types of wombats.
- The Wombat Foundation
- Details the conservation efforts to save the Northern Hairy-nosed wombat.
- Wombadilliac
- First-hand account of what it's like to care for orphaned wombats.
- Womland
- A huge gallery of Common wombat pictures, mostly of Chewbacca, who is over 20 years old.
Reader Feedback
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- walclan walclan Jan 9, 2009 @ 5:22 am
- Nice lens, 5 stars. Nice to see Aussie animals promoted!




























