Pushed into an ever-dwindling corridor of habitat, San Remo’s wombats need our help. Photos: Eve Kelly By Eve Kelly
I LOVE wombats. I marvel at their spectacular burrow networks that sometimes stretch up to 30 metres underground, their backwards pouches, their solid ‘bum plates’ and their square poo that they pile up in proud displays atop logs in their habitat! Even the scent of a wombat is as unique as their adaptations. They smell like the Australian bush - earthy, musty and herbal.
Over the years I’ve loved helping wombats, whether it be advocating for better protections, collecting grass for wombats in care at wildlife shelters, or feeding baby wombats in my care.
I LOVE wombats. I marvel at their spectacular burrow networks that sometimes stretch up to 30 metres underground, their backwards pouches, their solid ‘bum plates’ and their square poo that they pile up in proud displays atop logs in their habitat! Even the scent of a wombat is as unique as their adaptations. They smell like the Australian bush - earthy, musty and herbal.
Over the years I’ve loved helping wombats, whether it be advocating for better protections, collecting grass for wombats in care at wildlife shelters, or feeding baby wombats in my care.
There is nothing more beautiful than listening to a guzzling wombat joey feeding from their bottle and then depositing them, with their full bellies, back into a warm pouch, and watching them fall into a ‘milk coma’ after a good feed. Or watching joeys do back flips and zoomies while at play or nibbling on things that they shouldn’t with their perpetually growing teeth.
But most of all I enjoy wombats in their natural environment, whether it be encountering them trundling along in the bush, quietly munching on grass, running at lightning speed across an open paddock, or diligently extending their burrows in preparation for a new joey.
Many Australians malign our unique wildlife as a ‘pest’ that gets in the way of human progress. Australian native wildlife has intrinsic value and these ancient sentient creatures also possess a unique and valuable place in the biodiversity of the earth’s species. Extinct and threatened species were once common species. In a country with a woeful record of local and national extinctions, I feel compelled to help native wildlife and give them a voice.
I grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and moved to Australia at 11. I’ve always loved animals, and in my 20s volunteered at the Collingwood Children’s Farm on the weekends. Later I studied animal studies and science at TAFE and university and landed a job as a presenter and camp leader at Melbourne Zoo. After Black Saturday’s devastating fires in 2009 I joined Wildlife Victoria, and embarked on a long career of paid and vocational work including wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and wildlife welfare advocacy.
Many Australians malign our unique wildlife as a ‘pest’ that gets in the way of human progress. Australian native wildlife has intrinsic value and these ancient sentient creatures also possess a unique and valuable place in the biodiversity of the earth’s species. Extinct and threatened species were once common species. In a country with a woeful record of local and national extinctions, I feel compelled to help native wildlife and give them a voice.
I grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and moved to Australia at 11. I’ve always loved animals, and in my 20s volunteered at the Collingwood Children’s Farm on the weekends. Later I studied animal studies and science at TAFE and university and landed a job as a presenter and camp leader at Melbourne Zoo. After Black Saturday’s devastating fires in 2009 I joined Wildlife Victoria, and embarked on a long career of paid and vocational work including wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and wildlife welfare advocacy.
I lived briefly on Phillip island in 2013. After moving back to the island in 2021, I joined Mange Management Inc to help the wombats of San Remo. Many were suffering terribly with mange. If left untreated, mange causes a slow and painful death for many native species. Wombats are highly susceptible, because the cool, dry and humid conditions of their burrows are perfect environments for the mites to thrive.
San Remo’s rapid recent residential development has pushed wombats out of their burrows, into the streets and drain systems and into an ever-dwindling corridor of habitat along the San Remo back beach. The pressure of habitat loss, feral animals and human and dog activity places added stress on wombats, which increases the effects of mange.
By treating infected wombats, Friends of San Remo Wombats hope to reduce the problem across the whole population. We use a combination of treatments: direct administration whereby we pour medicine onto the wombats’ back from a cup at the end of a long pole. And self-administration, where a small cup of medicine is attached to a plastic flap at the entrance to their burrow, and when the wombats enter or exit their burrow they receive a dose of medicine onto their fur.
San Remo’s rapid recent residential development has pushed wombats out of their burrows, into the streets and drain systems and into an ever-dwindling corridor of habitat along the San Remo back beach. The pressure of habitat loss, feral animals and human and dog activity places added stress on wombats, which increases the effects of mange.
By treating infected wombats, Friends of San Remo Wombats hope to reduce the problem across the whole population. We use a combination of treatments: direct administration whereby we pour medicine onto the wombats’ back from a cup at the end of a long pole. And self-administration, where a small cup of medicine is attached to a plastic flap at the entrance to their burrow, and when the wombats enter or exit their burrow they receive a dose of medicine onto their fur.
Video shock
After many successful treatments of local wombats, we set up a couple of trail cameras to monitor wombat burrows. To our shock, we filmed scores of dogs - mostly out of sight of their owners, and in breach of both signposted beach regulations and state wildlife regulations - frequenting and sometimes entering wombat burrows, including burrows containing joeys.
After many successful treatments of local wombats, we set up a couple of trail cameras to monitor wombat burrows. To our shock, we filmed scores of dogs - mostly out of sight of their owners, and in breach of both signposted beach regulations and state wildlife regulations - frequenting and sometimes entering wombat burrows, including burrows containing joeys.
San Remo Back Beach. Video: Friends of San Remo Wombats
Most dog owners control their dogs to restrict them from the dunes and vegetation and to ensure they don’t wander out of sight. But not all dog owners do the right thing. We distributed flyers to educate the community about the issue. We shared video footage and photos of dogs visiting burrows, including with the council. However off-leash dog supporters and the council have done little to address the problem.
After four months with no action, we have started a petition and open letter asking the council to act. Education isn’t enough on its own; the council needs to do more to regulate dogs on the beach. It’s unacceptable to open the beach to off-leash dogs 24 hours a day no matter what happens to wildlife as a result.
San Remo is a growth area but human development should not be a death sentence for protected native species. We are appealing to dog owners, wildlife lovers, conservationists, local ratepayers and concerned citizens to help San Remo’s wombats. With appropriate regulation and control by the council, dog owners can enjoy and share access to the beach while keeping wildlife (and dogs) safe.
Please watch our video, sign and share our petition, and consider donating to Mange Management Inc. so we can continue our important work!
If you’d prefer to sign an open letter rather than a petition, please contact [email protected] for more information.
San Remo is a growth area but human development should not be a death sentence for protected native species. We are appealing to dog owners, wildlife lovers, conservationists, local ratepayers and concerned citizens to help San Remo’s wombats. With appropriate regulation and control by the council, dog owners can enjoy and share access to the beach while keeping wildlife (and dogs) safe.
Please watch our video, sign and share our petition, and consider donating to Mange Management Inc. so we can continue our important work!
If you’d prefer to sign an open letter rather than a petition, please contact [email protected] for more information.