New UTAS research into sarcoptic mange gives hope to wombats battling the deadly disease

MANY wombats infected with mange are dying from starvation because they spend more time scratching than eating the extra food they need to survive when infected, new research has found.

MANY wombats infected with mange are dying from starvation because they spend more time scratching than eating the extra food they need to survive when infected, new research has found.

The research, by the University of Tasmania, has been published in the Royal Society journal Open Science.

Researchers say they have been working closely with the State Government and are excited about what it might mean for the welfare of individual diseased wombats.

Tasmania’s bare-nosed wombat population has been decimated by sarcoptic mange since the first outbreak of the disease at Narawntapu National Park, in the State’s north, which has seen the local population fall by 94 per cent in seven years.

Since then it has spread to all parts of Tasmania.

A wombat with mange that is deaf and blind seeks shelter in the afternoon sun at Kelso in northern Tasmania. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

The State Government bowed to public pressure in 2016, putting up $100,000 to help an army of wombat warriors drench and care for sick animals, take in orphans and to fund more research into the problem.

MORE: STATE KICKS IN $100K TO SAVE WOMBATS

Sarcoptic mange is caused by skin-burrowing parasites and causes hair loss, skin thickening, blindness and death.

The latest research, led by UTAS School of Natural Sciences researcher Alynn Martin, shows sarcoptic mange also causes a major loss of body heat, a much higher metabolic rate, detrimental behaviour changes, and alteration of fat composition in wombats.

The loss of heat and the rise in metabolism causes infected wombats to burn up lots of energy. But because they are restricted by the disease in their foraging efforts, the animals cannot eat enough to replace energy levels and, in many cases, starve.

Wildlife carer Debbie Everson of Birralee who is caring for juvenile wombat Pippa that was treated and is now mange free. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

The new findings challenge past assumptions that wombats with mange spend more time foraging.

“This research addresses critical knowledge gaps about the impact of physiological changes in wombats with mange, giving us a more comprehensive picture of the health implications,” Ms Martin said.

“We found while wombats with sarcoptic mange do spend more time out of their burrows, they actually spend less time foraging and more time resting and itching because of the mange.”

The research also showed changes in fatty tissue composition in mangy wombats, suggesting a high-fat diet might help treat the disease.

With sarcoptic mange affecting more than 100 species globally, it is also hoped the latest research — which is part of a broader, collaborative wildlife disease research project — can also be applied to other species.

A juvenile wombat recovering from mange at Kelso. Picture: CHRIS KIDD