QLD: Govt on the wombat trail

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2000
QLD: Govt on the wombat trail

With the population of northern hairy-nosed wombats in Australia down to 70, the Queensland
government has backed a high priority recovery program.

The state's Environment Minister ROD WELFORD says the only known population survives
at Epping National Park near Clermont in central Queensland.

Mr WELFORD says the government is working with scientists in an attempt to establish
another colony to improve the animal's chance of survival.

Researchers will send remote cameras down the burrows on toy robot cars to provide
more knowledge about their living needs.

Mr WELFORD says the recovery plan will help bring the wombats back from the edge of extinction.

The hairy-nosed wombat is a burrowing marsupial and was once established in New South
wales and Victoria but predators and loss of habitat eradicated them.

The strong heavily built animal grows to about 100cm with a short tail, and has distinctive
brown hairs on the muzzle.

AAP RTV geb/sc/jx/jn

KEYWORD: WOMBATS (BRISBANE)

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