Government announces $100,000 in funding to help save wombats from sarcoptic mange

TASMANIA’S  wombats  have  been given a lifeline from the State Government as grassroots work to save the species from sarcoptic mange continues.

Wildlife carer Brendan Dredge with recovering mange-infected juvenile wombat T.C. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

TASMANIA’S  wombats  have  been given a lifeline from the State Government as grassroots work to save the species from sarcoptic mange continues.

Environment Minister Matthew Groom yesterday announced that $100,000 would be spent to bolster statewide wombat monitoring, research into the disease and financial help for community groups actively involved in efforts to treat infected wombats.

The funding has been welcomed by Wombat Warriors who started building the first of three sanctuaries to help treat and then isolate healed wombats at the weekend.

“It is a great start and I imagine more Tasmanian citizens will rise up on the back of the government’s recognition that our concerns about a lack of action were justified,” Wombat Warriors founder John Harris said.

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Mr Groom said a new program was needed to secure the recovery of Tasmania’s wombat population from the devastating impact of mange.

A blind mange-infected wombat. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

“While wombat mange mite infestation is prevalent across many states, it is clear that Tasmania’s wombat population needs some special help,” Mr Groom said.

“As a Government, we are determined to do all we can to help our wombats in the fight against this insidious disease.

“The recovery program will be a collaborative effort focused on a number of immediate actions including enhanced statewide monitoring of wombats to help us better understand the prevalence and severity of mange, additional research into the disease, and additional support for a number of community groups actively involved in first response efforts in caring for affected wombats.”

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The funding will also be used to examine the potential for more effective treatment options.

“This will include trials for both new and existing mange treatments to determine the most effective treatment options, as well as examining the potential for the establishment of a mobile response capability,” Mr Groom said.

The new program will be a joint effort between the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment, the University of Tasmania and volunteers from Conservation Volunteers Australia.

Mr Groom said the partnership would ensure the best possible prospects of success in responding to the disease and securing a positive future for Tasmania’s wombat population.

Mr Harris said the funding news was a “great start” to an invigorated statewide effort to save the species.

“It is great to get State Government backing. We need to train more volunteers to treat infected wombats and I am pleased enhanced monitoring will be funded to give a clearer picture of just how big the problem is,” he said.

Last week the Mercury highlighted the work done by wombat carer Brendan Dredge, at Kelso, who has successfully homed and treated two infected and orphaned baby wombats.

“We need another 200 Brendans. Hopefully with extra funding we can train more volunteers to carry out this sort of work in other parts of the State,” Mr Harris said.