Species of the Day: Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat

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© Queensland DERM Species of the Day: Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii, is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. One of the world’s rarest mammals, it is now only found at a single location in Queensland, Australia, and the total population numbers only around 115 individuals. This species may have already been uncommon before European settlers arrived, but due Geographical range to a combination of drought and competition with grazing livestock, the population decline www.iucnredlist.org accelerated. Its small colony is further threatened by unpredictable environmental effects, loss Help Save Species of genetic diversity and exotic buffel grass taking over its natural habitat. www.arkive.org The entire range of the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat is encompassed by the Epping Forest National Park. A recovery plan has been implemented and, as a result, a 20 km long Dingo and cattle exclusion fence has been built, its habitat is managed, and kangaroo numbers are monitored. A second colony in the wild has recently been established, with the transfer of a small number of wombats to a reserve in south-central Queensland, with promising results so far. There are also plans to develop a captive breeding programme. The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: Species of the Day IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife is sponsored by International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London..

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