What's a wombat?

You've heard of the brand...

                    ...you've seen the sign...

...but do you know what a wombat actually is?



Wombats are small animals found in South Eastern Australia and Tasmania. They are quite similar in appearance to their close relative the koala bear. Like the koala bear, they are shy but playful and are marsupials. This means that they carry their young in a pouch on their belly but because they burrow, their pouches are different to those of other marsupials such as koalas and kangaroos. The pouches face backwards so that the young are not hit by flying earth when digging. Wombats are not able to climb trees.

There are 3 species of Wombat: the Common Wombat (has a bald nose), the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat and the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat. Wombats are an endangered species. The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats are even close to extinction and are very rare.

Wombats can grow to between 70 and 120cm in length and up to 35cm in height. They can weigh between 15 and 35 kg. Wombats are characterised by large heads with rodent-like teeth for burrowing, stocky, muscular bodies and short but powerful legs. Their fur varies in colour from light brown, through grey to black.

Wombats prefer to live in mountains by the coast or by rivers and feed on grass, roots and fungi. They may stray a long way from their burrows while looking for food. Wombats are usually nocturnal but have sometimes been known to sunbathe!