The northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii), also called the yaminon, is one of three living species of wombats found in Australia. It is one of the rarest animals on Earth and is critically endangered. In the past, this wombat lived in parts of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. About 100 years ago, people thought the species had gone extinct, but in the 1930s, scientists found a small group of about 30 wombats living in a 3 km (1.2 square mile) area within the 32 km (12 square mile) Epping Forest National Park in Queensland. To protect the wombats from wild dogs, the Queensland Government built a 20-kilometer (12-mile) fence around their habitat in 2002. To help the species survive dangers like fire, floods, or disease, groups of wombats were moved to two other safe locations.

In 2003, there were 113 wombats in total, with only about 30 females able to have babies. By 2015, the population had grown to about 230. By 2021, the number increased to over 300, and by 2024, it reached more than 400.

Taxonomy

English naturalist Richard Owen described the species in 1873. The genus name Lasiorhinus comes from the Latin words lasios, meaning hairy or shaggy, and rhinus, meaning nose. The widely accepted common name is northern hairy-nosed wombat, which reflects the historical range of the species and the fur, or "whiskers," on its nose. In some older sources, it is called the Queensland hairy-nosed wombat.

The northern hairy-nosed wombat is in the same genus as the southern hairy-nosed wombat. The common wombat belongs to a different genus, Vombatus. Both Lasiorhinus species differ from the common wombat in physical features, including silkier fur, broader noses covered in hair, and longer ears.

Description

Wombats are generally strong and sturdy animals with large heads and short, strong legs. They have thick claws that help them dig burrows, which they use as homes for much of their lives. It usually takes about one day for a wombat to dig a burrow.

Northern hairy-nosed wombats have soft, grey fur covering their bodies. Their fur around the nose helps distinguish them from common wombats. They have longer, more pointed ears and a wider face than the other two wombat species. These wombats can grow up to 35 cm tall, be as long as 1 meter, and weigh as much as 40 kg. This species shows sexual dimorphism, meaning females are slightly larger than males because they have an extra layer of fat. They are somewhat larger than common wombats and can reproduce faster, giving birth to two young every three years on average.

The northern hairy-nosed wombat’s nose is very important for survival because it has weak eyesight and must rely on smell to find food in the dark. Studies of their digestive system show that the stretchy parts of their large intestines can change liquid waste into solid, cube-shaped scat.

Distribution and habitat

Northern hairy-nosed wombats need deep sandy soils to dig their burrows and a steady supply of grass, which is their main food. These animals usually live in open eucalypt woodlands.

At Epping Forest National Park, these wombats dig their burrows in deep, sandy soils on raised areas formed by a creek that no longer flows there. They search for food in nearby areas with heavy clay soils, but they do not dig burrows in these areas because they become flooded during wet seasons. In the park, burrows are often found near native bauhina trees (Lysiphyllum hookeri). These trees grow wide and spread out, and their roots may help keep the large burrows stable.

By the 1980s, the northern hairy-nosed wombat’s habitat had been reduced to a single area of about 300 hectares (740 acres) in the Epping National Forest, located 120 kilometers (75 miles) northwest of Clermont in east-central Queensland. Additional groups of wombats have been created at two sites near St George: the 130-hectare (320-acre) Richard Underwood Nature Refuge in 2009 and the 2,800-hectare (6,900-acre) Powrunna State Forest in 2024. Plans are in place to establish a fourth site by 2041.

Behaviour

The northern hairy-nosed wombat is active at night and lives underground in tunnels. They stay inside their tunnels during bad weather because the tunnels keep the same level of moisture and temperature. These wombats often share tunnels with up to 10 others, with an equal number of males and females. Baby wombats are usually born during the wet season, from November to April. When there is plenty of rain, about 50–80% of female wombats in the group will have babies, one at a time. Young wombats stay in their mother’s pouch for 8 to 9 months and are no longer fed by their mothers at 12 months old.

The wombat’s body fat and slow use of energy allow them to survive without food for several days when food is not available. Even when they eat daily, they only spend 6 hours eating in winter and 2 hours in summer, which is much less time than a similar-sized kangaroo, which eats for at least 18 hours daily. Their food includes native grasses such as black speargrass (Heteropogon contortus), bottle washer grasses (Enneapogon spp.), golden beard grass (Chrysopogon fallax), and three-awned grass (Aristida spp.), as well as roots. Their teeth keep growing after childhood and are worn down by the rough grasses they eat. Their habitat has been taken over by African buffel grass, a type of grass brought in for cattle farming. This grass grows better than the more nutritious native grasses that wombats prefer. It reduces the amount of native grasses available, forcing wombats to travel farther to find food and leading to less food overall.

Conservation

The northern hairy-nosed wombat has the following conservation status:

• Critically Endangered, as listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2015 (last assessed on 15 June 2015).
• Critically Endangered, under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
• Critically Endangered, under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld).

On 15 February 2018, the federal Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE) changed the conservation status of the northern hairy-nosed wombat from Endangered to Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act. This change matched the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Because of its status under the EPBC Act, the species is listed in the Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT).

Originally, there were two types of hairy-nosed wombats. The other type is the Southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), which lives on the other side of Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Both species had fewer individuals between 1870 and 1920. The main reasons for this decline were hunting by farmers, competition for food with introduced animals, and predation.

Today, the northern hairy-nosed wombat faces threats such as a small population size, predation, competition for food, disease, floods, droughts, wildfires, and habitat loss. Its small, localized population makes it especially vulnerable to natural disasters. Wild dogs are the main predators of the wombat. Introduced animals like European rabbits and human activities have also contributed to its decline.

In 2006, researchers found that two male northern hairy-nosed wombats had a fungal infection caused by Emmonsia parva, a type of fungus that lives in soil. Scientists believe the wombats likely inhaled the infection from the soil.

Since about 1993, the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science (DES) and its earlier groups have led a recovery program for the species. This program has been supported by Glencore mining company and The Wombat Foundation.

To help protect the species, several conservation efforts have been made in the 21st century. For example, in 2000, a 2-meter-high, predator-proof fence was built around 20 kilometers of a park. In 2008, an insurance colony of the species was created at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge (RUNR) near St George in southern Queensland. This reserve is surrounded by a predator-proof fence. In 2021, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) partnered with DES to study and manage the animals in the sanctuary. In October 2023, AWC signed an agreement with DES to care for the wombats in the 130-hectare Richard Underwood Nature Reserve. DES would focus on the Epping Forest population.

In 2006, scientists studied the population of northern hairy-nosed wombats by using double-sided tape in their burrows to collect hair. DNA analysis showed that the ratio of female to male wombats was 1:2.25 in a group of about 113 wombats. These findings helped researchers understand the population structure and led to further studies on why there are more males than females in the wild.

In Epping Forest National Park, more resources and attention have been given to wombat research, population monitoring, fire management, maintaining the predator-proof fence, controlling predators and competitors, and removing invasive plants. The species recovery plan from 2004 to 2008 included efforts to involve the public in saving the species, increase the number of wombats in the wild, and create new populations within the wombat’s historical range. A volunteer caretaker program allows people to help monitor the population and repair the predator fence. DNA fingerprinting of wombat hair also helps researchers study the species without trapping or using radio-tracking.

Studies have also been done to learn about the wombat’s diet and nutrition.

Because of these efforts, the northern hairy-nosed wombat population has slowly grown:

• In the 1930s, a population of about 30 wombats was found in Epping Forest. Only 35 individuals were counted in the early 1980s.
• In 2003, the total population was 113 individuals, including about 30 breeding females.
• In 2013, the estimated population was 196 individuals, with 9 more at RUNR.
• In 2016, the population was estimated to be 250 individuals.
• In May 2021, researchers found the population had grown to over 300 individuals.
• In June 2024, the total population was reported to be over 400 individuals, including 18 at RUNR and 15 newly moved to Powrunna State Forest.