Wombat monitoring data
To assess the threat of mange to wombat populations in Tasmania, NRE Tas has been undertaking surveys around Tasmania to determine:
- Wombat population trends
- Distribution and prevalence of mange in wombats
This information will help identify the factors that influence wombat populations.
A summary of the results of these surveys is given below with links to more detailed reports.
Wombat population trends
NRE Tas has been monitoring trends in wombat populations using spotlight surveys in northern, eastern, central and southern Tasmania since 1985 and on Flinders Island since 1994.
Overall, the Tasmania mainland wombat population has increased by 61% since 1985. Over the last 10 years (2014 to 2023), the wombat population on mainland Tasmania has decreased by 7%.
Trends vary across regions Tasmania, both overall and over the last decade. Most notably, there has been a large decrease in counts in the Central North region since 2007, coinciding with a sarcoptic mange outbreak. The Flinders Island subspecies has increased by 459%, since monitoring began in 1994, with the largest increases occurring in recent years.
The report below contains a more detailed summary of wombat population monitoring in Tasmania.
Wombat and mange distribution
Wombats occur widely in Tasmania in all major habitat types from sea level to 1500 m above sea level. Mange-affected wombats occur throughout large parts of Tasmania, particularly on agricultural land. There are currently no confirmed records of mange from rwestern Tasmania, nor Maria Island.
Distribution of wombats (blue circles) and sarcoptic mange (red triangles) in Tasmania. Data obtained from the Natural Values Atlas of Tasmania (June 2024). Regions are shown and labelled.
Mange prevalence in wombats
Since 2016, NRE Tas, has been undertaking targeted, standardised surveys to assess the prevalence of mange in wombat populations around Tasmania. Night surveys were conducted at 40 locations in 6 of Tasmania's 11 climate regions. Mange was recorded at 13 locations and in 5 regions. Mange may have been present at more locations and regions but was not detected because of low prevalence or sample sizes. Overall, average mange prevalence based on direct observations during night surveys was 4.3%. Mange prevalence estimates are likely to vary as more data are gathered because mange prevalence varies in space and time.
These results for prevalence of mange-affected common wombats in Tasmania are consistent with the results from mainland Australia, where the disease is reported as being widespread, with generally low rates of prevalence (less than 5%) with occasional localised outbreaks.
The report below contains a more detailed summary of mange prevalence in wombats in Tasmania: