Wombats are heavily built animals with a broad head and short legs. They have strong claws to dig burrows where they spend much of their time. There are three wombats: the Common Wombat, the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat and the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat. As the largest of the three wombats, the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat can weigh up to 40 kg and be more than 1 m long. Compared with the Common Wombat, Vombatus ursinus, the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat has softer fur, longer and more pointed ears and a broader muzzle fringed with fine whiskers.
The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat may appear slow and clumsy but can move at speeds up to 40 km/h over a short distance.
Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat |
Lasiorhinus krefftii
Status: Critically Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Lasiorhinus krefftii
As such; the species resilience is reduced against factors that may deleteriously impact the health of individuals; including environmental conditions that reduce the availability of food for prolonged periods (e.g. fire; floods; drought or climate change) (DEHP 2016).
Climate change Higher temperatures potential potential Higher temperatures are expected throughout the and extreme weather species range by the end of this century; events potentially reducing the area of suitable habitat and reducing the extent of grasslands available for foraging (DEHP pers. comm.; 2017).
Climate change is likely to increase the frequency of severe drought and floods.
Wildfire potential potential Wombats are well protected from fire in their burrows; but fire threatens their food supply (DEHP 2016).
Buffel grass forms dense stands which create large and continuous fuel loads in dry times this significantly increases the risk of major wildfires; which could wipe out the species food supply (DEHP pers. comm.; 2017).
Threats The species decline since European settlement is mainly attributed to the impacts of pastoralism (habitat clearing and livestock grazing); exacerbated during periods of drought (Dinwoodie 2012).
The potential for competition may increase during drought (Dinwoodie 2012).
More extreme droughts may increase mortality; as drought slows reproductive output; and reduces body condition and survival rates of the species (DEHP 2016).