New home for rare wombats

Scientists monitor the welfare of the
rare northern hairy-nosed wombat prior
to its reintroduction near St George.
Photo EPA

The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland commends the Environment Protection Agency's (EPA) plan to establish a satellite population of endangered northern hairy-nosed wombats in south west Queensland.

The EPA plans to move a small number of the wombats – the second rarest mammal in Australia – from their current single location in Epping Forest National Park, near Clermont, to form a separate breeding colony on a selected property 600km south near St George.

'Establishing a second population is a necessary insurance policy for this species,' said Des Boyland, Wildlife Queensland's Policies and Campaigns manager.

Andrew McNamara, Minister for Climate Change, Sustainability and Innovation said on Friday 9 May that the move will protect the tiny remaining population of 115 wombats from the devastating potential impact of an extreme event such as fire, disease or severe climate change.

'Wildlife Queensland also commends the careful steps taken by the EPA to ensure the success of the reintroduction,' commented Mr Boyland.

'Captive breeding programs have their place but natural habitat reintroduction is more likely to have a long-term positive outcome for the species,' he said.

The EPA located the suitable new site after a 2-year search across central and southern Queensland using satellite technology, soil, landform and regional ecosystem mapping and tests for vegetation and soil testing.

The new colony will be located on the property of land holders Ed and Gabi Underwood who have registered part of their property as a nature refuge in order to protect the wombats.

In addition to selecting the site, EPA scientists have also spent 2 years trialling a technique for successfully translocating wombats in order to give the best chance of success to the establishment of the 'off-park' colony.

Swiss-based mining giant Xstrata has funded the project in a three-year $3M sponsorship deal. Xstrata runs coal mines in the local area of Clermont.

More about northern hairy-nosed wombats

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, contact us by email or call +61 7 3221 0194