WombatsBarbara Triggs One of Australia’s most engaging marsupials, the wombat is also one of the most disparaged and least understood. Often depicted as slow, muddle-headed and clumsy, it can, in fact, outpace a human or a dog over a short distance. Wombats are quick to learn and superbly adapted to their burrowing way of life. This book gives a full account of how wombats live and the many hazards they face. Dealing mainly with the bare-nosed wombat, Vombatus ursinus, it also includes information on the southern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons, as well as the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii, which is one of the world’s most endangered animals. The book also gives practical advice on rearing orphan wombats. Completely revised, this new edition has over 100 illustrations, including 23 colour plates and drawings by Peter Schouten. |
Contents
1 | |
2 The wombat itself | 13 |
3 Burrows | 21 |
4 What goes on in a burrow? | 35 |
5 Life above ground | 41 |
6 From birth to maturity | 69 |
7 Dangers disorders and disasters | 99 |
8 Wombats in the wardrobe | 123 |
Growth and development | 133 |
Handrearing orphan wombats | 134 |
141 | |
151 | |
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Common terms and phrases
adult wombat animal’s animals bare-nosed wombat behaviour bite centimetres centimetres long chase chikker claws common wombat common wombat Vombatus digging dogs and dingoes drought ears electric fence entrance Epping Forest female Figure flehmen foxes front paws grass grazing ground hand-reared wombats head hind legs home range human incisors kangaroos kilograms koala Kosciuszko National Park Lasiorhinus major burrow male mammals marsupials McIlroy medium burrow metres metres long milk molars mother moves National Park native forest night northern nosed wombat observed occasionally orphan wombat parasites pasture Photo pouch young probably rabbits rear rubbing posts rump scats scent scratch side skin sleeping slopes soil sometimes South Australia South Wales southern hairy-nosed wombat species Tasmania teat thylacine traps trees tunnels urine usually Victoria Vombatidae Vombatus ursinus wallabies warrens weaning wild wildlife wombat burrows wombat Vombatus ursinus wombats live Wombats Plate young at heel young wombat