International Day of the Wombat

Australia is renowned for its weird and wonderful animals.  Each is cute in their own right.  Each is endangered in some way, shape, or form.  Today, October 22, is International Wombat Day.

Some of you may not know what a wombat is.  Others have heard of them.  Few of you, I am guessing, like many Aussie icons, have never set eyes on a wombat.

It reminds me of when I was doing my Master's thesis on koalas.  My supervisor, very proud of the project he had come up with, had a Japanese professor and his aide visiting.  My supervisor introduced me and publicly announced I was working on koalas.  The professor nodded in acknowledgement, like all good Japanese people.  I then explained what I was doing.  Each time, the Japanese visitors nodded.  As they walked away, I can just imagine them saying to each other, “What the hell are these koalas?” 

Back to the wombats.  There are three species:

• Common (Bare-nosed) Wombat: Found across southeastern Australia and Tasmania.

• Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat: Found mainly in South Australia (the state's faunal emblem).

• Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat: Critically endangered, with a small protected population living in Queensland.

I have met a few over the years. You can tell they are nearby because they leave cube-shaped droppings on rocks or logs. 

Why cube-shaped poo?

Scientists think it’s because it stays in place and doesn't roll away. This helps them mark their territory better. Pretty logical, really 😉😉

How they make it is a mystery and best left to the experts. Did you know wombats can do complex mathematical operations? They can cube the number 2. (😁😁).

Wombats are also logically built in another way. All marsupials have a pouch. Wombats, however, have a backward-facing pouch. This way, it doesn't fill up with dirt when they dig their burrows. Again, isn’t nature logical and wonderful?

Like all animals, they are super cute when they are young. As adults, they are not aggressive; let’s just say they are determined. A bit like the Italian tanks with five reverse gears and one forward gear (in case they are attacked from behind). When confronted, they will retreat (briefly) but then come at you with a nasty habit of biting your legs.

They are sturdy little units. An adult can weigh between 20 and 40 kilograms (44 to 88 pounds). They stand about 25 to 35 cm (10 to 14 inches) tall and can be up to a metre long.

They are one of only three burrowing marsupials native to Australia. With thick claws and strong bodies, they are expert diggers. They create complex tunnels that can stretch underground for several metres. These burrows provide refuge for other animals during extreme weather and bushfires.

Despite their heavy, stocky build, these marsupials can run up to 40 km/h (25 mph) when threatened! If they take a dislike to you, you can’t outrun them unless you zig-zag; that confuses them (sometimes).

On International Wombat Day, every October 22nd, we celebrate a unique Australian animal. Wombats are curious, smart, and full of personality. They are much more than what their tough looks imply.

Like most living species on Earth, wombats face growing threats. Habitat loss is shrinking the spaces animals need to survive. This happens due to land clearing, infrastructure development, and agriculture.

As their habitats shrink, wombats face greater danger. They have to travel farther for food and shelter. This increases their risk of injury and conflict. Wombats lack road sense. They often get run over while trying to cross roads in the outback, where traffic moves quickly.

To wrap up, in Australian slang, "wombat" means two things: a slow or foolish person and a man looking for casual sex. This plays on what the animal eats—“eats, roots, and leaves.”

Till next time,

Calvin