A group of amazing volunteers in New South Wales’ Kangaroo valley is working to save some of our land’s most vulnerable creatures, orphaned baby wombats.
The wombat is one of Australia’s most iconic and oldest native marsupial species, but due to a combination of habitat loss and introduced predators they are now protected in every state except Victoria. The Wisdom Wombat Refuge was established to ensure that wombats in need of medical care, whether it be from accident, injury or mange, can receive it.
The refuge, named after the collective term for these native marsupials, is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to rescuing orphaned joey and injured adult wombats. Founded in 2010 by Lyn and Paul Obern, the group aims to rescue, raise and rehabilitate wombats in need, with the ultimate goal being releasing healthy animals back into their natural habitat.
The project came about as a result of Lyn’s long career as a registered nurse in regional areas. She says that the transition into wildlife care came naturally as she ran into more and more animals in need.
“It seemed a logical transition to go into wildlife, as I was always driving to early-morning clients when I was nursing and picking up joeys from dead animals,” Lyn said in an interview with the ABC’s 7.30 Report.
Over 12 years the group estimates they have successfully released between 50 and 60 wombats back into the wild.
Positive Action
- To care for orphaned and injured wombats take considerable financial investment. If you would like to donate to the Wisdom Wombat Refuge, visit their Facebook Page for more information.
- Help ensure wombats and other Australian natives have a habitat for the future by planting and caring for a native tree this National Tree Day.
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Positive Environment News has been compiled using publicly available information. Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.