What is a Wombat?
The wombat is a small, rather charming, herbivorous marsupial found in Australia and Tasmania. They are solitary animals, with short brown fur and a large nose, looking somewhat like a cross between a kangaroo and a koala. Others describe the wombat as resembling petite bears, since they are so stocky. The wombat tends to be rather docile in appearance, yet, if necessary, can attack with ferocity to defend itself or its children. Most Australians have never seen a wild wombat. This is in part because wombats are extremely proficient at digging and tunneling. They create huge networks of burrows and are usually not seen above ground during the day, as they are generally nocturnal. The wombat is exceptionally strong and muscle bound, but generally slow moving. A full-grown wombat can weigh as much as 55 pounds (24.94 kg), and be about 40 inches (about 1 m) in length. Research into wombat physiology reveals that the wombat has the largest and most fully developed brain of any marsupial, s
The Common Wombat is the largest burrowing herbivorous (plant eating) mammal. It is so good at burrowing that early settlers called it a ‘badger’. Their burrows can extend 20 or 30 metres below the ground. Burrows are usually made by digging into a hillside or creek bank. They use their strong front legs with short flattened claws to dig with and their back legs to push the loose earth and rocks away.
