Northern
Hairy-Nosed Wombat
This Australian marsupial is one of the world's rarest mammals, with one population of just over one hundred individuals remaining. Named for its broad, whisker-fringed muzzle, the Northern hairy-nosed wombat has powerful limbs for digging burrows, in which it spends most of the day. These complex burrows, consisting of multiple entrances and deep tunnels, are maintained at a constant humidity and temperature. At night, the wombats wobble out across sandy soils to munch on native grasses. While conservationists have had some success reintroducing the wombats to previously-roamed areas, invasive grass species degrade their available home turf. Don’t let climate change further threaten the Northern hairy-nosed wombat’s survival through increased temperatures, droughts, floods and bush fires!
Art by JooYoung Choi