Fight to save our wombats with survival populations to be treated and isolated

WOMBAT crusaders are celebrating finally getting the green light to treat and isolate a survival population in wombat sanctuaries as the sarcoptic mange disease spreads into the Midlands and Cradle Mountain areas.`

A recovering mange infected juvenile wombat named T.C. at Kelso. Pictures: CHRIS KIDD

TASMANIA’S wombat crusaders have been given the green light to treat and isolate a survival population in wombat sanctuaries as sarcoptic mange spreads into the Midlands and Cradle Mountain area.

The Department of Primary Industries Parks Water and Environment told Wombat Warriors founder John Harris it would not stand in the way of his plan to build three enclosures to house 100 wombats in the state’s North, as the first step in an isolation strategy to save the species from mange.

Volunteers had previously been advised by authorities they were not allowed to treat wombats in the wild or capture, treat and then relocate the animals under the Nature Conservation Act.

MORE: MANGE CONTINUES TO DECIMATE WOMBAT POPULATIONS

This week Mr Harris wrote to Environment Minister Matthew Groom saying he was prepared to be arrested because time was running out for the species.

“We have the land, the money, the materials, the vets and expertise to make a global noise and ensure the survival of a species under real threat,” Mr Harris said in his letter to Mr Groom.

“Please be assured, that if necessary, I plan to be the first person arrested for capturing mangy wombats and taking them to three sanctuaries with vets and volunteers to treat the infection.”

Mr Harris was then told of the department’s change of stance and now expects building to start as early as next week.

The wombat sanctuary plan would be similar to the Devil Ark program set up to save the Tasmanian devil.

Wildlife carer Brendan Dredge takes recovering mange infected juvenile wombat T.C. for a walk at Kelso.

Sarcoptic mange has now wiped out all wombats from the Narawntapu National Park in the State’s North and is infecting wombats further afield.

There are reports that properties at Blessington and Trevallyn have lost their resident wombat populations and the WomSAT tracking application shows mangy wombats have been sighted at Cradle Mountain.

Dead mange-ridden wombats were also found in the Midlands in February.

MORE: CALLS FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP STATE’S WOMBATS

At Kelso, on the Tamar River, wombat carer Brendan Dredge has another recovering and orphaned wombat in his care.

Twelve-month-old T.C.’s mother died of mange and the little wombat was also infected when he was found alone on a rural road.

He is now enjoying life in the seaside enclave that first brought the wombat’s plight into the spotlight through its community burrow drenching program.

Wombat Warriors founder John Harris inspects a blind and mange-infected wombat at Kelso.

Mr Harris said it was now time for the Government to take the baton and become the wombat’s champion.

“This is too big a job for enthusiastic volunteers but we are still prepared to do our bit,” Mr Harris said.

“I look forward to talking to authorities and taking my thought bubble and making it a working strategy.”

Lyons MP Brian Mitchell said the Government needed to back its supportive words with funding or it would be an empty gesture.

“In November last year I toured affected areas and saw first-hand the devastation of wombat populations in our national parks. Since then I have been appalled by the complete lack of action and care from both the state and federal governments,” Mr Mitchell said.

RSPCA Tasmania CEO Peter West said anything that sped up the State’s knowledge and understanding of the mange situation was welcome and his organisation would like to play a part if needed.

“An isolation strategy worked with the Tasmanian devil so it should work with the wombat,” Mr West said.

“We need to give the experts time to be experts but I understand where the community haste is coming from. If all the wildlife and nature groups that work in this space band together we could create something awesome.”

T.C. takes a quick dip under the watchful eye of wildlife carer Brendan Dredge

A State Government spokesman said the department was supportive of community groups playing a role in the treatment and rehabilitation of mange affected wombats and was working to ensure the required approvals were in place for the appropriate capture, treatment, care and release of affected animals.

“While wombat mange mite infestation is prevalent across many states, more information is needed as to whether other factors are at play in the local population decline,” the spokesman said.

“The Department is looking to work in partnership with the University of Tasmania and other interested parties to obtain further information in this area and to identify treatment options that may be more effective at managing mange at a population level.”

Mr Harris wants residents in the south of Tasmania to report any wombats they see with mange so the path of the disease can be tracked.