THEY are a beloved, pudgy little creature unique to our country but their future is increasingly under threat.
Though humans are the largest threat to wombat populations around Australia as the marsupials are being killed on roads, due to habitat clearing, illegal hunting and culling on private properties, a devastating health condition is also impacting the species’ future.
Surprisingly, not a whole lot of research has been conducted about the species due to their being a shy and elusive nocturnal animal that is difficult for researchers to study but one thing that is clear is that for wombats that contract Sarcoptic Mange, a common condition among wombats, the prognosis is dire.
Wombat mange causes immense suffering for animals that contract the mite infestation as a skin infection and thick scabs over the animal’s body come in conjunction with a host of health problems that result in the wombat’s health rapidly declining, resulting in death.