BIOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION STATUS
Wombats are unusual among mammals in that males are philopatric (they remain near their natal location postweaning) and there is female-biased dispersal (Walker et al. 2008). Life span can exceed 30 yr, although in the wild it is likely to be considerably less (Horsup et al.
2021; Walker et al. 2021; Carver et al. 2023). All three species of wombat have suffered a significant reduction in their respective ranges since European settlement in Australia.• The bare-nosed wombat, also referred to as the common wombat or the coarse-haired wombat, has a discontinuous and fragmented range from south-eastern Qld to south-eastern SA on the mainland, and on Flinders Is. and Tas. (McIlroy 2008). Three genetically distinct subspecies are recognised: south-eastern mainland (V. ursinus hirsutus), Bass Strait islands (V. ursinus ursinus) and Tasmanian (V. ursinus tasmanien- sis) (Martin et al. 2019). Collectively, from a conservation perspective, these subspecies are of least concern (Taggart et al. 2016). While V. ursinus ursinus and V. ursinus tasmaniensis have seen population increases in recent decades, the population trajectory of V. urinsus hirsutus remains unknown, with concerns raised about local and regional variations (Carver et al. 2021).
• The southern hairy-nosed wombat is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List (Woinarski and Burbidge 2016) and is mostly restricted to several localities in SA and south-eastern WA (Swinbourne et al. 2021). Population trends vary with rainfall patterns, topography and land use and are inconsistent across its range. The species is considered abundant in some areas and significant conflict with farming communities has been reported (O’Brien et al. 2012). Elsewhere, subpopulations are small, few and scattered.
• The northern hairy-nosed wombat is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a CITES Appendix 1 listed species. The estimated population is 400 individuals across three Qld sites (Epping Forest National Park and translocated sub-populations at Richard Underwood Nature Reserve and Powrunna State Forest near St George) (DESI 2024). Management strategies include the maintenance of dog-proof fences, provision of supplementary food and water when required, fire mitigation and control of competitive grazing species. The population is increasing steadily, prompting calls for the establishment of another subpopulation (Horsup et al. 2021).
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