Bare-nosed wombat

Bare-nosed wombat

We are delighted that the Dr Hermann and Irmgard Rehme family have taken on the sponsorship of the naked-nosed wombat.

The naked-nosed wombat(Vombatus ursinus) is one of the three species of wombats (Vombatidae) still living today and, like kangaroos and koalas, belongs to the marsupial family. It is found in the south-east of Australia and on Tasmania.

The appearance of the naked-nosed wombat is very reminiscent of a small bear. It is between 90 and 115 cm long and weighs between 22 and 40 kg. Its fur is very dense and grey to brown in colour. The legs are short but strong and perfectly adapted for digging.

The habitat of the naked-nosed wombat is cool, temperate forests or woodlands, scrubland and coastal areas. Here it finds sufficient suitable food, which consists exclusively of plant material. This includes grass, seeds, roots, shoots, moss and tree bark. Thanks to its thrifty activity and its large digestive system, the naked-nosed wombat can manage well even with such a nutrient-poor diet. It is generally active at dusk to at night. During the day, it spends most of its time in its self-dug underground burrow.

The breeding season of the naked-nosed wombat is between October and January. Only one cub is born at a time, which is born tiny, naked and blind after around 20 to 30 days. After around 10 months, the cub leaves the pouch for the first time, remaining dependent on its mother for a further 5-6 months.

The population of the naked-nosed wombat is not endangered at the moment. The population appears to be stable at the moment and is estimated to be around one million animals. This is mainly due to the fact that it is well protected in almost its entire range. The greatest threats to the naked-nosed wombat are car collisions, poisoning and habitat destruction through agriculture.