Wombat

Origin

The wombat (Vombatus ursinus) lives only in south-eastern Australia (Queesland area), as well as on several islands around the south-eastern coast, including Tasmania.
It lives in arid plain or mountainous areas, but also in the vicinity of forests, pastures or agricultural lands.
The common wombat is part of the order Diprotodontia, family Vombatidae.
The risk of extinction of this species is increasing, in Tasmania it is protected by law, as the number of specimens is decreasing due to poaching, road accidents, animals and birds of prey (Eagles, dogs), as well as habitat destruction.
The wombat was discovered in February 1797 by a crew anchoring on Clarke Island. It was recorded as a newly discovered animal in January 1798. Since 2005, an unofficial holiday was observed on October 22 with the name "Wombat Day".
It can be a detriment to farmers and farmers. In the past they were hunted for this, but also for fur, meat or sport. At the moment some species are on the verge of extinction, while others are still hunted as parasites.

Wombat Food

The slow metabolism of the wombat is due to hard food low in nutrients.
It feeds mainly on roots,grass, tree bark, mushrooms, shoots or leaves.
They are rich in fiber, which prolongs digestion up to 12 days.
Gastric enzymes are other fromulates to be able to efficiently discover every piece of food, so that the body can then absorb every nutrient so valuable.

Wombat Appearance

The wombat is the largest burrowing mammal in the world. It weighs between 25 and 40 kg, and has a body length of 70-120cm long, from the tip of the nose to the tail. The tail is only 3 cm long and has no definite role.
It is the closest relative of the marsupial Koala. The two are similar in many ways. Adaptation to arboreal, terrestrial life has shaped the two in different directions. It has a square and heavy appearance, the legs are short and thick, the head is large, continuing the thick neck, the ears are small and rounded, and the nose large and devoid of hair.
The limbs are provided with powerful claws, real tools for efficient digging. In one night the wombat can dig a gallery of several meters. The dental Formula is identical to that of placental rodents (mice, rabbits).
The incisors grow throughout life and are dulled due to the high fiber diet. The wombat has the largest brain of all Australia's marsupials.
This is why they quickly adapt to different living conditions. The fur is soft (not as fluffy as that of hairy-nosed varieties or koalas) and dense. The color can range from Sandy and gray to brownish or dark gray.
2. The northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) is threatened with extinction, with only a few hundred animals currently living in a reserve of just 3km Square in Queensland's Epping Forest.
3. Southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons): it is the smallest of the 3, living only in the Nullarbor Plain from Queensland to The New South Wales border.
The latter two species are distinguished from the common wombat by their fur-covered nose and sharp ears. These two varieties have softer fur than the common wombat. The movements of this animal are clumsy and slow. It can also be bred in captivity, fed with various vegetables, carrots, beets. If adopted as a child, the wombat is very affectionate with its owners.

Wombat Behavior

The wombat is a solitary animal, except females with cubs or adults during mating. Each specimen has a well-defined territory that can reach up to 23 hectares, depending on the abundance of the food source.
On a single territory, the animal has several Burrows, each with several entrances. In situations of threat from predators, it can quickly shelter.
It is a nocturnal and Twilight animal. In the evening it is the time when it comes out of its burrow to feed, and at night it digs its galleries. Powerful claws are very effective in digging. A burrow can also be 30 meters long. It consists of a series of tunnels that connect different rooms.
A burrow attests that it is used by the presence of faeces at the entrance. During the day, the wombat hides in its burrow, sleeping. Every now and then he goes out into the pub's mouth for some sun baths.
The wombat is a veritable adversary in direct confrontations and proves to be no easy prey for any predator. When he feels threatened he attacks with claws and teeth. Even man can fall victim to this nervous little guy.
The wombat has a back, especially the extremely hard and well-conformed posterior. When attacked in the burrow, he crushes the enemy's head between the back and the walls of the burrow. He also blocks the entrance to the burrow with his back, and when he approaches the pursuer strikes him with his hind legs (donkey kick).
Although it is usually a slow animal, when it feels threatened the wombat can also catch 40 km/h for short distances. His natural predators are dingoes, the tasmanian devil and birds of prey. Feces are hard and Square in shape.
They are used when marking the territory.
In captivity, the wombat can be easily tamed and can stand to be caressed. However it is cranky and can sometimes attack nervously.

Wombat Breeding

Wombats become sexually active only at 3 years of life. Mating occurs during the rainy season in the southern hemisphere, from November to January. After 21-28 days the female gives birth to a single Young, the size of a bean, without eyes, ears and hair.
The baby migrates to the marsupial where it attaches to one of the two nipples. Here it will feed on its mother's nutritious milk for 6 weeks, when it will allow you to explore the world outside the marsupial.
When leaving the mother's marsupial, the cub is kept in a nest chamber in the burrow, lined with herbs and dried leaves. At the age of 12-15 months the cub is weaned.
At the wombat, the maruspiul has its opening towards the back, so that when the female digs, the discarded soil does not reach the pocket.
The cub will live with its mother until the next year when it will mate again.
Life expectancy is up to 30 years.