Wombat highway reopened as second translocation underway

Issued: 6 Sep 2024

The second translocation of northern hairy-nosed wombats is underway with plans for an additional fifteen animals to be released into their new habitat at Powrunna State Forest.

Northern hairy-nosed wombats are one of the world's rarest mammals, and the first group of wombats that were translocated in May have moved out of their starter burrows and dug their own.

Female wombats at Powrunna have been observed to be carrying pouch young that were conceived at Epping Forest National Park (Scientific).

To increase the population at Powrunna, the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) has set 53 traps at Epping, with the threatened species team moving the traps daily to prevent the wombats from becoming wary.

Already, several wombats have been successfully trapped at Epping and released into their new surrounds at Powrunna.

The threatened species team is hoping to capture at least ten females and up to five males for translocation to ensure there are more females than males at Powrunna.

Principal Conservation Officer Dave Harper said the ongoing translocation effort is part of a broader strategy to create a self-sustaining population of northern hairy-nosed wombats.

“This second translocation of wombats is another significant step in the ongoing efforts to safeguard this critically endangered species,” Mr Harper said.

“Whenever we capture a wombat, there is much excitement because all the effort, the planning and hard work that has gone into this project is paying off.

“It is wonderful to see them released at Powrunna and it does feel like a success story, but the real cause of elation will be to see the current joeys breed, which will prove the new site is fully functional.”

Up to sixty wombats will be gradually translocated to Powrunna over the next three years. They are transported by road, and it’s a ten-hour drive.

Wildlife officer Rachel Baker said she feels lucky to be involved in the process of capturing and transporting the wombats from Epping to Powrunna.

“The first wombat that I translocated from Epping to Powrunna was the first wombat that we set a trap for and captured,” Ms Baker said.

“I called her the first lady, and during the drive I was focusing on safety because the wombats are priceless and it felt like I was transporting the Prime Minister.

“Being involved in this project is such a career highlight and to assist with the establishment of the third population reminds me of why I love my job.”

Wildlife officer Tiahna Luke said it is exciting to be involved in the ongoing project and transporting the precious cargo reminded her just how vulnerable the species is.

“I feel so honoured to be involved and surrounded by people who are all focused on one species and one goal,” Ms Luke said.

“At Powrunna, we used a radio tracker to find the first female wombat that was translocated, and she’s out there and moving around which is really amazing.”

Through DESI’s dedicated work, the northern hairy-nosed wombats have been brought back from the brink of extinction. In the eighties, the population at Epping Forest National Park was estimated to be around 35, and it is now estimated to be more than 400 wombats.

Along with Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) and Richard Underwood Nature Reserve, the newly established population at Powrunna State Forest is the third of its kind in Queensland.

DESI would like to thank the Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (GNTAC) and Gunggari Native Title Holders, Glencore, and The Wombat Foundation for their ongoing support.