Mange continues to decimate wombat populations in Narawntapu National Park

THE wombat population in a national park in Tasmania’s north is in dire straits, with researchers saying localised extinction is likely.

The deadly scapoctic mange continues to sweep through wombats populations. Picture: NICK BEAN

RESEARCHERS and community groups are fighting to stabilise the wombat population in a Tasmanian national park as localised extinction looms.

University of Tasmania researcher Scott Carver and his team have completed a treatment and monitoring program to try to save wombats from sarcoptic mange in Narawntapu National Park.

Two hundred burrows were treated but Dr Carver said some wombats became re-infected and the mange could not be eradicated.

UTAS researcher Scott Carver.

Dr Carver said fewer than 10 wombats remained in the park and the disease would most likely claim their lives too. But he said work to establish a new direction to treat infected wombats in other parts of Tasmania should stop the state’s wombat population from plummeting.

“We are on the path to seeing the local population in the Narawntapu area go,” Dr Carver said.

“But the working group set up at the end of last year is working to support those who want to treat wombats on their land and to get a clearer picture of what is going on mange-wise across the state.

“While the mange has swept through the national park and nearby areas, the population of wombats is not crashing in Tasmania as a whole.”

In Kelso, a coastal town which borders the national park, the community fight to save wombats has been stalled by red tape.

Wombat “crusader” John Harris — who is part of a community treatment program which targets burrows and applies a drench to infected wombats — said he was becoming disenchanted as the group waited for a permit to come through to allow the Cydectin treatment to continue.

Mr Harris said more than 100 wombats were shot on a Kelso farming property recently and he hoped a community member would soon join the Tasmanian Government-UTAS wombat working group to be involved in the rescue mission.

A wombat with mange.

In recent correspondence between Environment Minister Matthew Groom and Bass Greens MHA Andrea Dawkins, Mr Groom said his department was supporting the Kelso community group to obtain its permit from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.

“Wombat mange is an issue my department does take seriously and as such I am keen to ensure that any treatment protocol that is developed has the best chance of providing a solution to the problem,” Mr Groom said.

Ms Dawkins said it was “heartbreaking” to learn that fewer than 10 wombats remained in Narawntapu National Park, which attracted visitors because of its abundant wombat population.

“We hope it’s not too late for the Narawntapu wombats,” she said. “It’s critical the Government does everything to recover the wombat population, and stop mange from spreading any further.”