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Wombats – squat, huggable, bear-like marsupials – are one of Australia’s best-known creatures. Combining brains and brawn, the adorable fluff-balls are expert diggers, unearthing mountains of soil to form burrows in which they spend much of their solitary existences.

While the animals are ubiquitous in Australian culture, one of the three species of wombat is critically endangered.

Reduced to just 35 individuals in the 1980s, the northern hairy-nosed wombat was on the brink of extinction. But thanks to government intervention and the dedicated conservation work of a small team of researchers, it has bounced back to around 400 – all living in the wild.

The story of the northern hairy-nosed wombat is one of resilience in the face of agricultural expansion. Its cute, comical appearance belies its stubbornness, a trait that has served it well in a threatening world.

Northern hairy-nosed wombats are the biggest of the three species of wombat, weighing an average of <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qld.gov.au%2Fenvironment%2Fplants-animals%2Fconservation%2Fthreatened-species%2Ffeatured-projects%2Fnorthern-hairy-nosed-wombat2%23%3A%7E%3Atext%3DCharacteristics%2Cstrong%252C%2520long%2520claws." target="_blank">32 kilograms (70 pounds)</a> and growing <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qld.gov.au%2Fenvironment%2Fplants-animals%2Fconservation%2Fthreatened-species%2Ffeatured-projects%2Fnorthern-hairy-nosed-wombat2%23%3A%7E%3Atext%3DCharacteristics%2Cstrong%252C%2520long%2520claws." target="_blank">up to one meter (3.3 feet)</a> long. They feed primarily on grass and live in big burrows formed by digging up tons of soil in the deep, soft ground of semi-arid environments. “They’re just solid balls of muscle,” said Andy Howe, senior field ecologist for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy in New South Wales. “We call them the bulldozers of the bush. They’re this short, stocky, solid animal that would barge through anything,” he added. “But at the same time, they are extremely, extremely cute.”
Northern hairy-nosed wombats are the biggest of the three species of wombat, weighing an average of 32 kilograms (70 pounds) and growing up to one meter (3.3 feet) long. They feed primarily on grass and live in big burrows formed by digging up tons of soil in the deep, soft ground of semi-arid environments. “They’re just solid balls of muscle,” said Andy Howe, senior field ecologist for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy in New South Wales. “We call them the bulldozers of the bush. They’re this short, stocky, solid animal that would barge through anything,” he added. “But at the same time, they are extremely, extremely cute.”
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Wombats are nocturnal and often live alone in their burrows, racing underground at the sound of the slightest disturbance. Howe (pictured) described them as “extremely shy and secretive,” meaning researchers rarely see them in the wild. Breeding has never been observed and is assumed to take place underground, while males are known to chase each other in and out of burrows to establish dominance. “I know people who have worked with this species for three plus years before they actually got to see one (in the wild) for the first time,” said Howe.
Wombats are nocturnal and often live alone in their burrows, racing underground at the sound of the slightest disturbance. Howe (pictured) described them as “extremely shy and secretive,” meaning researchers rarely see them in the wild. Breeding has never been observed and is assumed to take place underground, while males are known to chase each other in and out of burrows to establish dominance. “I know people who have worked with this species for three plus years before they actually got to see one (in the wild) for the first time,” said Howe.
Brad Leue/Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Northern hairy-nosed wombats once lived along the east coast of Australia, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F103636949%2FHistorical_changes_in_the_distribution_of_hairy_nosed_wombats_Lasiorhinus_spp_a_review" target="_blank">from central Queensland down to the border between New South Wales and Victoria</a>. In the 1800s, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wombatfoundation.com.au%2Fwombats%2F%23%3A%7E%3Atext%3DThere%2520are%2520only%2520400%2520northern%2Cinto%2520Australia%2520by%2520European%2520settlers." target="_blank">European settlements spread across the east coast</a>, converting woodlands and grasslands to agricultural land for cattle and sheep grazing. “Essentially they were just eaten out of house and home,” said Howe. Simultaneously, rabbit populations were exploding in southeast Australia, and many rabbits were using wombat burrows for their warrens. As part of efforts to control rabbits, the<strong> </strong>burrows were ripped or blown up, with the wombats becoming collateral damage.
Northern hairy-nosed wombats once lived along the east coast of Australia, from central Queensland down to the border between New South Wales and Victoria. In the 1800s, European settlements spread across the east coast, converting woodlands and grasslands to agricultural land for cattle and sheep grazing. “Essentially they were just eaten out of house and home,” said Howe. Simultaneously, rabbit populations were exploding in southeast Australia, and many rabbits were using wombat burrows for their warrens. As part of efforts to control rabbits, the burrows were ripped or blown up, with the wombats becoming collateral damage.
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By the 1980s, the population of northern hairy-nosed wombats had reduced to 35 individuals, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wombatfoundation.com.au%2Fwombats%2F%23%3A%7E%3Atext%3DThere%2520are%2520only%2520400%2520northern%2Cinto%2520Australia%2520by%2520European%2520settlers." target="_blank">all living on a single property in central Queensland</a>. Aware of the risk of extinction without immediate intervention, the government had converted the property into Epping Forest National Park, removed the cattle, and fenced off the area. Slowly, the wombat population began to rebound. But in the early 2000s, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wombatfoundation.com.au%2Fwombats%2F%23%3A%7E%3Atext%3DThere%2520are%2520only%2520400%2520northern%2Cinto%2520Australia%2520by%2520European%2520settlers." target="_blank">a series of wild dog attacks</a> killed between 10 and 12 individuals, around 10% of the entire population at the time. After a more robust fence was erected, the population began to grow at a rate of 9% each year, according to Howe,<strong> </strong>about as quickly as the slow-breeding marsupials can manage. Today, there are approximately 400 northern hairy-nosed wombats in Australia, with the vast majority living in Epping Forest National Park.
By the 1980s, the population of northern hairy-nosed wombats had reduced to 35 individuals, all living on a single property in central Queensland. Aware of the risk of extinction without immediate intervention, the government had converted the property into Epping Forest National Park, removed the cattle, and fenced off the area. Slowly, the wombat population began to rebound. But in the early 2000s, a series of wild dog attacks killed between 10 and 12 individuals, around 10% of the entire population at the time. After a more robust fence was erected, the population began to grow at a rate of 9% each year, according to Howe, about as quickly as the slow-breeding marsupials can manage. Today, there are approximately 400 northern hairy-nosed wombats in Australia, with the vast majority living in Epping Forest National Park.
Brad Leue/Australian Wildlife Conservancy
A new population was established at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge in southwest Queensland, where Howe works, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianwildlife.org%2Fwhere-we-work%2Frichard-underwood-nature-refuge%2F%3Fsrsltid%3DAfmBOorvBHX-o6id4bO96GpKoo7dYXdg055xFV4PQYRZuA8EuUfWpROO" target="_blank">in 2008</a>. There are currently <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianwildlife.org%2Fwhere-we-work%2Frichard-underwood-nature-refuge%2F%3Fsrsltid%3DAfmBOorvBHX-o6id4bO96GpKoo7dYXdg055xFV4PQYRZuA8EuUfWpROO" target="_blank">about 15 wombats</a> in the population, although numbers are rarely exact due to the animals’ elusive nature. Researchers at the refuge collect data on the wombats by placing poles furnished with sticky tape at the entrance to their burrows, designed to pick up hairs as they enter and exit.
A new population was established at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge in southwest Queensland, where Howe works, in 2008. There are currently about 15 wombats in the population, although numbers are rarely exact due to the animals’ elusive nature. Researchers at the refuge collect data on the wombats by placing poles furnished with sticky tape at the entrance to their burrows, designed to pick up hairs as they enter and exit.
Andy Howe/Australian Wildlife Conservancy
The third and final population of the northern hairy-nosed wombat lives in Powrunna State Forest, also in southwest Queensland.<strong> </strong><a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wombatfoundation.com.au%2Fwombats%2F%23%3A%7E%3Atext%3DThere%2520are%2520only%2520400%2520northern%2Cinto%2520Australia%2520by%2520European%2520settlers." target="_blank">Last year</a>, 15 individuals were relocated there from Epping Forest, which is near capacity.<strong> </strong>“(Translocation) requires a hell of a lot of people,” explained Howe. “Trying to move these big animals from central Queensland down into southern Queensland, which is about 800 kilometers (500 miles), that’s a big logistical effort.”
The third and final population of the northern hairy-nosed wombat lives in Powrunna State Forest, also in southwest Queensland. Last year, 15 individuals were relocated there from Epping Forest, which is near capacity. “(Translocation) requires a hell of a lot of people,” explained Howe. “Trying to move these big animals from central Queensland down into southern Queensland, which is about 800 kilometers (500 miles), that’s a big logistical effort.”
Jennifer Molyneux
It is rare for all the individuals of a critically endangered species to live in the wild, but for the northern hairy-nosed wombat, it is a necessity. “A captive breeding program has been tried and tested with this species,” explained Howe, “but as soon as you take them out of the wild and into a captive environment, they do not feed on anything that is provided. They just sit in the corner and starve to death.” That makes it harder to ensure the survival of the species; one big wildfire in Epping Forest could wipe out all the grass on which the wombats feed and dramatically set back conservation efforts. But for now, in circumstances that few could have foreseen four decades ago, the “bulldozers of the bush” are safe.
It is rare for all the individuals of a critically endangered species to live in the wild, but for the northern hairy-nosed wombat, it is a necessity. “A captive breeding program has been tried and tested with this species,” explained Howe, “but as soon as you take them out of the wild and into a captive environment, they do not feed on anything that is provided. They just sit in the corner and starve to death.” That makes it harder to ensure the survival of the species; one big wildfire in Epping Forest could wipe out all the grass on which the wombats feed and dramatically set back conservation efforts. But for now, in circumstances that few could have foreseen four decades ago, the “bulldozers of the bush” are safe.
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