A waddling wombat captured by a camera trap during the 2024 monitoring.
A recent survey at Narawntapu National Park found that the wombat population is still present and numbers appear to be growing.
The local wombat population was almost wiped out after a sarcoptic mange outbreak in 2006, with monitoring by the University of Tasmania between 2010 and 2016 showing a 94 per cent decline in the wombat population.
Sarcoptic mange is caused by skin-burrowing mites and is the most important disease affecting bare-nosed wombats. The disease causes significant welfare impacts for individual wombats ultimately leading to their deaths. Annual monitoring by NRE Tas conservation scientists has continued, confirming that wombats are still in the park but in very low numbers.
In 2018 and every year thereafter, NRE Tas staff deployed remote cameras in Narawntapu National Park to gain insight into prevalence of the species.
Senior Zoologist Michael Driessen said remote cameras are useful for spotting species when numbers are low. In May 2024, the team set up 23 cameras covering about 20 per cent of the park, where wombats were once abundant, and left them for two months.
“Since wombats don't have unique markings and not all of them may be caught on camera, it's hard to know exactly how many individuals are there. However, the estimated number of wombats observed in 2024 was around three to 16, and this is a big improvement from the one to three individuals observed in 2022,” Dr Driessen said.
“The real glimmer of hope for this local wombat population is that there were no visible signs of mange observed.”
In the seven years of camera surveys, only two mothers with young have been seen. The wombats detected in 2024 were adults, likely indicating they immigrated from nearby areas, possibly from other parts of the park.
Monitoring the wombat population and the prevalence of mange at Narawntapu National Park is important to understanding the recovery of the wombat population in the area. Results have been encouraging and Bravecto® has been licenced by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority for treatment of sarcoptic mange in wombats.
Reports of mange-affected wombats can be directed to NRE Tas’ Wildlife Services who then liaise with registered wildlife rehabilitators and rescue groups to facilitate treatment.
Overall, the conservation status of wombats in Tasmania is not at risk.
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Wombat (Vombatus ursinus) at Narawntapu National Park
Night-time wanderings captured by a camera trap during the 2024 monitoring.
Michael Driessen setting up a camera trap.