Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat
At Risk of Extinction: Captive Breeding, Translocation Efforts Begun
Lone population of critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombats is threatened by overgrazing, predation and drought. Translocation and captive breeding started.
The northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) has been on the critically endangered list since 1994 and its numbers are still declining. The only remaining population of this species is in the Epping Forest National Park in Queensland. Establishing a second population is a key goal of the species recovery plan.
Risk Factors for Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombats
Overgrazing by cattle and sheep has reduced food availability for this small nocturnal herbivore. Introduced plants such as buffel grass has taken over the area, pushing out native grasses that were the staples of the northern hairy-nosed wombat diet. In addition, other herbivores including kangaroo, wallaby, and rufous bettong, along with introduced rabbits and feral pigs, compete for food.
Predation by dingoes was a concern until the park was fenced. Any break in the fencing would renew the risk of loss to dingoes.
The population of northern hairy-nosed wombats fell to a low of approximately 35 animals in the 1980s, making it one of the ten most endangered mammals in the world. Since that time there has been a skewed sex ratio, with more males than females and genetic diversity is limited. This significantly slows the projected rate of recovery for the species.
The population drop occurred during a prolonged drought and, although a healthy population of wombat would have been able to withstand such losses, a population of less than 120 animals, with less than 40 breeding age females cannot. Another drought could mean extinction.
Captive Breeding, Translocation and Further Study Needed
The Australian Government and Environmental Protection Agency recovery plan addresses these concerns, emphasizing the need to increase breeding success and to move some animals to a another area, reducing the chance of extinction were a disaster to strike the main colony.
Wombats have been difficult to keep in captivity and breeding success has been limited. Some initial studies will be done with similar species such as the Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) to minimize the impact on the Northern wombats. Assisted breeding or artificial insemination may have to be attempted given the limited numbers of breeding age females and potentially genetically dissimilar males.
As with many nocturnal species, efforts are hampered by a lack of knowledge of Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat biology. Attempts to supplement food and water during shortages have been largely unsuccessful, which may explain why captive care has been so difficult. Success in developing a drinking trough that the animals have used may help with captive animals, and with wild wombats should another drought affect their colony.
First Wombat Translocation Appears Successful
In July of 2006 the first two Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombats were translocated to a separate area within Epping Forest National Park. By September they were doing well, appearing to establish territory and settle into their new burrows. Now that this initial translocation has proven successful, the next step will be to establish several more populations, some of them outside the park, so that no one event is likely to result in the extinction of the species.
The Australians have a long road ahead of them in attempting to recover the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat, but the plan they have put together looks at all the issues clearly and indicates that a great deal of thought has gone into it. Hopefully it will become another endangered species recovery success story.
Photo Credit: Scherre
