10)~Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat~

More about 10)~Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat~

Species: Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii)

Location: Queensland, Australia

Status: Critically Endangered - one of the rarest marsupials on Earth

Estimated Population: Around 300 individuals, all surviving in two protected sites

Description & Behavior:

The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat is a robust, burrowing marsupial- stocky, muscular, and covered with soft grey-brown fur. It has a broad head, small eyes, and, true to its name, fine hair around its nose that helps it sense underground vibrations.
It lives mostly underground in complex burrow systems, emerging at night to feed on native grasses and herbs. Solitary but gentle in temperament, these wombats have evolved to survive the harsh Australian outback by conserving water and maintaining cool burrow temperatures during scorching days.

Threats:

Tiny distribution - once widespread across eastern Australia, now confined mainly to Epping Forest National Park and a smaller reintroduced population in Richard Underwood Nature Refuge.

Drought and climate change - drying grasslands reduce food supply.

Predation and competition - from dingoes and introduced species like rabbits.

Genetic bottleneck - limited numbers reduce resilience to disease and environmental stress.

Conservation Efforts:

Predator-proof fencing around reserves to keep wombats safe.

Artificial burrows built to expand breeding sites and reduce territorial disputes.

Supplemental feeding programs during drought years.

Reintroduction projects to create new populations and ensure long-term survival.

Monitoring by motion-sensor cameras and microchip tagging for health and population tracking.


These combined efforts have helped the species slowly recover from a population of just 35 individuals in the 1980s - a remarkable story of conservation persistence.

2025 November 01