NHW Recovery
The northern hairy-nosed wombat (NHW) is one of the
world’s most threatened mammals. The NHW is listed as
‘Endangered’ under both the Commonwealth Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the
Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. The current population of
about 115 individuals is restricted to a single, isolated colony on
Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) in central Queensland near
Clermont.
Since 1992, the species has been the subject of an intensive
recovery program, led by the EPA/QPWS. This succeeded in increasing
the size of the NHW population from 65 individuals in 1993 to 113
in 2000. Tragically, following a series of dingo attacks in 2001,
the population declined to an estimated 90 individuals. Management
actions to counteract the threat of further attacks included the
construction of a dingo exclusion fence around all wombat habitat
on Epping Forest NP and the inception of a volunteer caretaker
program to provide a permanent presence on the park.
Since completion of the dingo fence in 2002, there have been
unprecedented levels of burrow construction and signs of juvenile
(footprints, small dung) on the park, indicating that the
population is recovering. This has also involved an improvement in
the sex ratio. In the late-1990s, the population contained about 55
males and only 35 females, or 38 % of the population. This has now
improved and the 52 females in the last census make up 45% of the
population. In addition, the variety of native grasses they feed on
has been reduced by buffel grass infestations.
Project Update:
The project is implementing a range of recovery and management
actions for NHW that include monitoring of the wombat population,
provision of supplementary feed and water, habitat management,
predator and competitor control. Kangaroo exclusion cages are
currently being built over feed stations to restrict access to all
but the smallest kangaroos, and reduce competitive pressure on the
wombats.
Key References:
Northern hairy nosed wombat Recovery Plan