Climate change has become the growing problem of the 21st Century. We have already lost many beautiful species on Earth with the increasing temperature and pollution. Things we do for our selfish material comforts are somehow resulting in the extinction of many more species on Earth.
While these clouds of despair are fuming the current day scenario, a ray of hope has shone in as a hairy-nosed wombat joey is born at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge in St George, this is the first born in five years.
With a population of just 250, it is one of the world’s rarest species. A wombat specialist team reports that mother and Joey are doing well, with the baby still staying close to its mother. On this subject, the Environment Minister Steven Miles said wildlife officers had been keenly watching the mother’s growing pouch for 10 months.
When asked about the same, Mr. Miles said, “This is the first addition to the reintroduced colony of northern hairy-nosed wombats in five years, and it indicates the new male brought in last year is settling in well.”
He added: “This little Joey is an important new arrival for the colony, and highlights that this refuge provides suitable conditions for successful breeding.”
According to the sources, ‘The St George colony’ was the second refuge for the species to be set up and was established in 2009, in an effort to ensure the survival of the species that are assumed to be extinct in few years.
And, the northern hairy-nosed wombats were thought to be extinct until a small population of about 30 was discovered in central Queensland in the 1930s. Protected by a predator proof fence, numbers have steadily increased to 240 individuals at the refuge known as Epping Forest National Park.
Australian Broadcasting Channel (ABC) has posted the video footage of the mother and baby on their official website, check out the video here:
Endangered wombat joey a five-year first for Queensland https://t.co/mxRjpxLqhK via @ABCNews
— Trippy Panda 🐼 (@cHaRaNpAlaK) July 19, 2017
Meanwhile, recently, as was threatened by the flood on one occasion and fire on another, it was decided a second refuge was needed. Adding the total number of wombats, this ‘Queensland’s refuge’ is the second-last known location of the northern hairy-nosed wombats.
Including the new born baby, the total hairy nosed wombat count has reached eleven.