SOUTHERN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT (Lasiorhinus latifrons) HUSBANDRY MANUAL “Willie” Donna Treby 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................... 4 2. TAXONOMY ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 NOMENCLATURE ............................................................................................................................................. 5 2.2 SUBSPECIES ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 OTHER COMMON NAMES ............................................................................................................................... 6 3. NATURAL HISTORY ........................................................................................................................................ 6 3.1 MORPHOMETRICS ........................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT ......................................................................................................................... 6 3.3 DIET IN THE WILD ........................................................................................................................................... 7 3.4 LONGEVITY ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 3.4.1 Wild ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 3.4.2 Captivity .................................................................................................................................................. 8 3.4.3 Techniques to determine the age of adults ............................................................................................ 8 4. HOUSING REQUIREMENTS........................................................................................................................... 8 4.1 HOLDING AREA DESIGN .................................................................................................................................. 9 4.2 SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................................ 9 4.3 POSITION OF ENCLOSURE ............................................................................................................................... 9 4.4 WEATHER PROTECTION .................................................................................................................................. 9 4.5 HEATING REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................... 9 4.6 SUBSTRATE .................................................................................................................................................... 10 4.7 NEST BOXES ................................................................................................................................................... 10 4.8 ENCLOSURE FURNISHINGS ........................................................................................................................... 10 4.9 WOMBAT BREEDING FACILITIES .................................................................................................................. 11 4.10 HYGIENE AND CLEANING ............................................................................................................................ 12 4.11 RECORD KEEPING ....................................................................................................................................... 12 4.12 METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION ................................................................................................................... 13 4.12.1 Microchip transponders ..................................................................................................................... 13 4.12.2 Tattoos ................................................................................................................................................ 13 4.12.3 Visual identification ........................................................................................................................... 13 4.12.4 Ear tags ............................................................................................................................................... 13 4.12.5 Hair bleaching .................................................................................................................................... 13 4.12.6 Ear notching ....................................................................................................................................... 14 4.12.7 Freeze marking .................................................................................................................................. 14 5. FEEDING REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 14 5.1 CAPTIVE DIET ................................................................................................................................................ 14 5.2 SUPPLEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................... 16 5.3 PRESENTATION OF FOOD .............................................................................................................................. 16 6. HANDLING AND TRANSPORT .................................................................................................................... 16 6.1 TIMING OF CAPTURE AND RESTRAINT .......................................................................................................... 16 6.2 CATCHING BAGS ............................................................................................................................................ 16 6.3 CAPTURE AND RESTRAINT TECHNIQUES ...................................................................................................... 16 6.4 WEIGHING AND EXAMINING ......................................................................................................................... 17 6.5 RELEASE ........................................................................................................................................................ 17 6.6 TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................ 17 6.6.1 Box design ............................................................................................................................................ 17 6.6.2 Furnishings .......................................................................................................................................... 18 6.6.3 Water and food ..................................................................................................................................... 18 6.6.4 Animals per box ................................................................................................................................... 18 Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat Husbandry Manual Donna Treby 2005 revised 2020 1 6.6.5 Timing of transport .............................................................................................................................. 18 6.6.6 Release from the box ............................................................................................................................ 18 7. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................................... 18 7.1 DAILY HEALTH CHECKS ................................................................................................................................ 18 7.2 DETAILED PHYSICAL EXAMINATION ............................................................................................................ 19 7.2.1 Sedation and anaesthesia ..................................................................................................................... 19 7.2.2 Physical examination ........................................................................................................................... 19 7.3 ROUTINE TREATMENTS/ VACCINATIONS ...................................................................................................... 21 7.4 KNOWN HEALTH PROBLEMS ......................................................................................................................... 21 7.4.1 Ectoparasites ........................................................................................................................................ 21 7.4.1.1 Mange, ticks & fleas ...................................................................................................................................... 21 7.4.2 Endoparasitic worms ............................................................................................................................ 22 7.4.2.1 Cestodes