Landmark wombat project on track despite loss of one colonist
12 November 2009
The program to build a healthy second colony of northern hairy nosed wombats at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge Yarran Downs near St George is still on track despite the sudden death of one of the wombats relocated from Epping Forest National Park.
Director of Threatened Species, Rebecca Williams said a post mortem examination had been unable to conclusively determine what caused the death.
“Veterinarians believe it may be a result of snake bite or infection from cuts sustained during interaction with other older males, which could have occurred at the wombat’s original location of Epping Forest, or stress related,” Ms Williams said.
“We can confirm that starvation was not a cause of death as the wombat had been eating well and his stomach was full.
“Close observation by rangers since his translocation also confirmed the wombat had been well and had managed to dig his own burrow and use a number of ’starter’ burrows built by rangers.
“The only problem observed through video monitoring of a number of burrows was some hair loss across the wombat’s rear flanks and rump.
”This is a very sad outcome for the individual wombat but we always knew that there were risks associated with any translocation of the northern hairy nosed wombats.
“We also knew that the risk of doing nothing would be far greater to the survival of the species.
“Video monitoring of the four remaining wombats indicates that the other males all appear in good condition. The female wombat appears to have lost weight and is still tentative in her new surroundings.
“Despite this setback, this landmark project continues to contribute to the conservation recovery of the species.
“We are also learning more about the needs of wombats so that the risks associated with future reintroductions can be reduced.
In the four months since the northern hairy nosed wombats were reintroduced there has been a transformation in the landscape.
The wombats have modified the starter burrows provided and been busy digging new burrows and marking preferred pathways between burrows and favourite patches of grass.
“Every bit of digging and path establishment by these first colonists means the wombats that follow them will come to an environment which is more hospitable for them,” Ms Williams said.
Further information regarding the relocation program
The Yarran Downs relocation program is a three-year $3 million dollar partnership between the Queensland Government and global mining company Xstrata to help save the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat.
Only about 136 remain in one small isolated colony occupying an area the size of Brisbane’s central business district within the remote Epping Forest National Park.
The reintroduction project is aimed at establishing a new population away from Epping Forest National Park in case an extreme event like floods, fire, disease or severe weather change caused by climate change eliminates the entire species.
Xstrata’s sponsorship is funding the construction of a six-kilometre fence and ‘starter burrows’ for the wombats, ranger house, removing weed and eradicating feral cats, wild dogs and rabbits, veterinary and specialist fees, and transporting the wombats from Clermont to St George.
A two-year search by rangers across central and southern Queensland identified a suitable site on a private property near St George, in south-west Queensland. The exhaustive search involved satellite imagery, soil, landform and regional ecosystem mapping, and site visits for vegetation and soil testing. The property’s status as a nature refuge, The Richard Underwood Nature Refuge, will protect the wombats for future generations.
ENDS
Date: 12 November 2009
For further information contact Department of Environment and Resource Management Media Services Ph: (07) 3224 7792 or email media@derm.qld.gov.au
Last updated: 12 November 2009