Help save the Bare-Nosed Wombat

Usually I give a report about a specific wombat that crossed our paths, that we helped and its journey.

 But I thought this time I might do something a little different. Being year end (feels like a lifetime ago already), I compiled a list of all the wombats we helped. And it surprised me. I know we are busy, the need is incredible, but seeing just how many wombats came into care and needed help is phenomenal.

 This is not possible without having an amazing team to carry the load.

 So here is a quick run-down of what we did in 2024...and donations from everyone around the world is what made it possible:

• we treated 124 wombats in the field (requiring urgent medication but not needing to come into care)
• we completed 4 large population treatment programs for mange, totalling over 300 burrows
• we built 4 soft release enclosures
• we released 10 wombats
• we brought 43 wombats into care

 Of the 43 wombats we brought into care, some were transferred to other groups, and some passed away. Of all the animals we helped, whether in the field or in care, 26 wombats died.

This is a hard thing to deal with as we are all very passionate about these incredible animals. But sometimes they come to us already so compromised the last act of kindness is ending their suffering. Some were healing from mange in the field but were hit by cars, and some died from other causes.

We still had so many wins. Helping this amount of wombats for a small bespoke wildlife group is incredible. I am so proud of our team and how hard everyone works.

Apart from the above, we also completed a couple of orientation sessions to welcome new volunteers into the team. Our biggest achievement was the change we could affect in legislation around urban development and landclearing. In the past, when a developer wanted to clear for urban development, they did not look at wombats as wombats (the barenosed ones) are not covered in the EPBC Act for threatened species. This means all developers only worry about threatened species. Common species are generally ignored. Which means wombats sleeping underground were ignored. Until now.

We wrote a set of guidelines that the office of the Conservator for the ACT Government has customised and adopted. Now, if landclearing is happening where wombats live, there are rules in place how to deal with them. It is a first step, but a massive one. It's a win and now we can start refining the how.

Thank you for your role in all that we achieved. Without contributions and financial assistance, we wouldn't be able to afford the mange medications, other expenses and vet costs. It does add up and sadly support for wildlife from our Government is hard to come by. Which makes us all the more grateful for the support of the public who love these animals just as much as we do.

My wish for you is a blessed 2025 and for our team, a less crazy year than the last one and hopefully less losses and perhaps a step or two closer to our dream of having a large wombat sanctuary dedicated to the safe release of wombats.

Yolandi

Links:

• 2024 in review