Dotted yellow rays of setting sunlight danced along the interior of the tunnel. Bits and pieces of crumbling leaves rustled near the surface and interrupted my afternoon snooze. Flexing my hind legs, I hunched backwards and stretched my tired muscles. My mouth was dry from the dust that permeated my surrounding tunnel, somehow always finding its way to my lungs.I crawled towards the corner of my hole, searching for my stash of sedges and herbs. All that remained was a measly pile of aphylla bulbs and acacia seeds.I decided to wander deeper into our network of tunnels to find my family. My little brother scampered by, bragging about his grandiose escape from a pesky Tasmanian devil. Father scolded his antics and turned to my mother to express the dire state of our community – water supplies are diminishing quickly, and some are worried we’ll have to search for streams in new lands. My stomach dropped at the thought of such a hopeless endeavor. I have already stretched my hunger and thirst to their limits, despite a naturally slow metabolism to begin with. And that’s just the least of my concerns; I fear my own child inside of me won’t have enough nutrients to survive until spring.

I mustered some courage and elected to explore the night terrain in hopes of scavenging a tasty snack. A few other hairy-nosed wombats from neighboring colonies seemed to be on a similar mission this evening. As I clambered out of the tunnel opening, the taut bulge of my pouch skimmed the dirt landscape, catching a pointy burr. Ouch! The moisture has slowly crept away from the earth, leaving behind less favorable foliage to irritate us wombats. We have been stuck in a severe drought for months, with no definitive end in sight. When I was young, I remember tough times without enough resources, but none as persistent as this. Days are hotter and nights cooler, wombats hungrier and predators fiercer. I peered off in the distance at the beautiful setting sun, an indicator of safety from the day’s predators. The sweet smell of dusk almost lulled me into a sense of contentment, but the harsh, whipping wind reminded me of the trying times that lay before me tonight.

I spotted my mate among the other wombats. I circled around the sagebrush and snuck up behind him, carefully tiptoeing the terrain to surprise him. His round hind bounced freely and he roamed the clearing, sniffing for scraps of sustenance.  ­I watched as he sank his incisors into a pile of seedlings. His ears perked up, sensing an outside presence. I hastily sprinted behind him and jumped onto his comfortable, furry coat. He grunted in pain, but I knew he felt comfortable and loved in my presence. Our baby was a symbol of pride and companionship for both of us, and its near arrival brought forth enthusiasm for our whole colony. I felt blissful in his company – he completes me. Aaooooooohhhhh! I sprang to my feet instantly, surveying his face for clues for the noise that came from the circle of trees nearby. A nearby wombat stood on his hind legs and thrusted his neck forward, indicating danger from predators. This is a gesture that’s become all too common during the drought; the shortage of resources has caused greater competition among predators for food. With a rush of adrenaline, I bolted for our tunnels. The clamor of worried wombats interrupted the silence of the forest: three cut through the shrubs, two burrowed in nearby refuge, my mate streaked in front of me.  A wild pack of dingoes followed just behind us, nipping at my tail. My child squirmed inside my pouch, fearing for its life. I knew there was only one way to ward off the dingoes. I darted for my tunnel and burrowed myself in it head-first. The dingo followed, taking my bait. I kicked with my hind legs, crushing the skull of the persistent intruder. I was safe, for now at least.

Back in my tunnel, I contemplated the changing conditions in the outback. If it doesn’t rain soon, the entire balance of our ecosystem will be shifted permanently, threatening the survival of wombats and dingoes alike. For the sake of my child, I can only hope things change soon.

Wombats are a species of nocturnal marsupials that inhabit forested and mountainous regions in Australia and Tasmania. They have very muscular hind legs and sharp incisors, which they use to dig elaborate tunnel systems.[1] A distinctive feature of the wombat is its backward-facing pouch which it uses to carry its young. Wombats have an herbivorous diet consisting of many native Australian grasses, sedges, and roots.[2] Most of their food collection occurs at nighttime, when the weather is cooler and the environment safer. A fierce competitor, the wombat is territorial of its land holdings, deterring many predators with a wide range of techniques. One such technique is the “donkey” kick – wombats lure predators into their tunnels and employ a two-legged kick to crush the trespasser against the walls of the burrow.[3]

VIDEO: This video shows not a donkey kick, but another technique used by the wombat. Essentially, it follows a predator into its tunnel and causes it to suffocate by locking the entrance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfNmX1do7Po.

Wombats occupy significant cultural significance among the country of Australia. For example, the wombat served as an unofficial mascot for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It has also been featured on Australian currency and postage stamps. In fact, there’s even a city in New South Wales named after the furry mammal. Beyond naming recognition, wombat meat was consumed by aborigines for centuries before the arrival of the British. “Wombat stew” is a traditional Australian dish, though its popularity has declined as conservation efforts have sprouted for the wombat.[4]

On the topic of endangerment, the wombat is protected in all but one state of Australia. One of the three species of extant wombats, the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat, is considered severely endangered. The latest census in 2010 found just 163 wombats of this species left in the wild.[5] A huge obstacle towards rapidly increasing wombat numbers is their slow breeding rate and long weaning period, which can take over a year.

Above all, however, are the persistent effects of climate change on wombat populations. With a small, slow-growing population to begin with, minor changes in climate can have drastic effects on population sizes. Climate change chiefly impacts the wombat through droughts. This has two direct consequences for the wombat: the direct lack of food and water and the increased competition with comparable species in their food chain.[6] The connections between climate change and agricultural drought are numerous. As global average temperature rises, there is earlier snow melt and increased evaporation, complicating the timing of water availability and curtailing access to plentiful water supplies. Average annual rainfall numbers plummet during droughts, which occur more frequently and drastically with rising global temperatures as well.[7] Australia is particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change because of its specific geographical location. Wind patterns from the Southern Ocean usually carry rain across Southern and Eastern Australia during the winter and spring, but have shifted southwards with the warming climate. As a result, the entire country has experienced a “25 percent decline in average rainfall in April and May,”[8] a devastating consequence for young wombats who are generally birthed in the spring. Despite their name, Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombats actually occupy Eastern portions of the country. Natural springs and mountain streams are drying up rapidly because of the decreased rainfall, making it harder for wombats to find sources of water, and forcing many populations to move out of their preferred habitats in this endeavor. Exacerbating the issue, decreased rainfall dries up many of the plants that wombats generally consume for food.

But this is just the first direct impact of climate change. As the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection points out, “competition for food from introduced grazing animals, such as sheep, cattle and rabbits – particularly during droughts – has been the main reason for the [wombat] species rapid decline since European arrival in Australia.” And as I’ve explained previously, droughts are intimately connected with climate change.

Alas, hope is not lost for our furry friend. Multiple state-level governments in Australia are exploring options to rebound wombat populations, as well as taking action in the status quo. For example, the Queensland government is undertaking an 8-pronged approach, including dingo control, domesticated competitor monitoring, habitat management, pasture preservation, fire management, supplementary feed provision, park infrastructure investment, and permanent presence in Epping Forest National Park.[9] The last action item is critical to the sustainability of wombat populations, since a considerable population currently lives under protection in the Queensland park. Regardless of the steps being taken, the path to a “stable” endangered status for all three species of wombat will be a long, arduous, effort, but one that can come to fruition with proper timing and implementation.

 

Word Count with Quotes: 1495

Word Count without Quotes: 1419

 

 

Footnotes: 

[1] “Common Wombat,” Wildlife Management, http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/wildlife-management/animals-of-tasmania/mammals/possums-kangaroos-and-wombats/wombat. (accessed November 18, 2016).

 

[2] “Wombats, Wombat Pictures, Wombat Facts – National Geographic,” National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/wombat/.  (accessed November 18, 2016).

 

[3] “Wombat,” OneKind, http://www.onekind.org/education/animals_a_z/wombat/.  (accessed November 18, 2016).

 

[4] David Woodward, “Aboriginal Traditional Diet,” Aboriginal Traditional Diet, http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/A/Aboriginal%20traditional%20diet.htm.  (accessed November 18, 2016).

 

[5] Christopher Johnson,”Australian Endangered Species: Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat,” The Conversation, http://theconversation.com/australian-endangered-species-northern-hairy-nosed-wombat-13148.  (accessed November 18, 2016).

 

[6] Amelia Rosch, “Over 1,400 Endangered Species Are Threatened By Climate Change, Says New ‘Red List,'” ThinkProgress, https://thinkprogress.org/over-1-400-endangered-species-are-threatened-by-climate-change-says-new-red-list-896bd08fd4b4#.5n8e1v9fb. (accessed November 18, 2016).

 

[7] “Causes of Drought: What’s the Climate Connection?” Union of Concerned Scientists, http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/causes-of-drought-climate-change-connection.html#.WC9-66IrI6U.  (accessed November 18, 2016).

 

[8] Will Steffen, “Thirsty Country: Climate Change and Drought in Australia,” Climate Council, https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/droughtreport2015.  (accessed November 18, 2016).

 

[9] Colleen Davidson, “Recovery Plan for the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus Krefftii,” 1991, https://www.environment.gov.au/resource/recovery-plan-northern-hairy-nosed-wombat-lasiorhinus-krefftii-2004-2008.  (accessed November 18, 2016).

 

Media Citations: 

1. Wombat Near Tunnel: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56a1a14b05caa7ee9f26f47d/t/574591a78a65e22fcdba4bd7/1464177069885/
2. Wombats Playing: http://www.animalsdb.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Wombats-Playing.jpg
3. Wombat Graphic: http://rlv.zcache.com/wombat_graphic_classic_round_sticker-r9d2c22306fea42bb91cfcaa6150674ae_v9waf_8byvr_630.jpg?view_padding=%5B285%2C0%2C285%2C0%5D
4. Wombat: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Vombatus_ursinus_-Maria_Island_National_Park.jpg