2010 Second year program at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge

Since the reintroduction of the five wombats from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) (EFNP) to the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge (RUNR), conservation officers have collected considerable footage from active IR cameras that monitored the population. These cameras show the wombats were displaying typical wombat behaviour. What was also interesting, but not as pleasing, was the level of aggression displayed by the largest wombat to the others. In addition to establishing new social boundaries, wombats were also tested with extreme weather conditions: down to minus five degrees when the wombats were moved in winter, over 40 degrees in the heat of summer and then the largest recorded flood at nearby St George.

Unfortunately, two male wombats were found deceased on the property after their release. Autopsies were conducted on the deceased wombats, but the results were inconclusive, though it appeared both had died rapidly.

Nine months since the reintroduction, the three wombats remaining in the population had settled in well and were thriving in their new environment.

Boosting the population at Richard Underwood Nature Reserve 2010

Trapping at Epping Forest National Park targeted the previously collared wombats that had evaded trapping in 2009. Any additional wombats trapped, that were suitable for translocation, were also moved to Richard Underwood Nature Refuge.

During the 2010 trapping sessions, 10 wombats were deemed suitable for translocation, with an additional male and nine females joining the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge population.

Trapping 2010

Date trapped	Wombat ID	Age	Previously trapped	Condition (out of 5)	Translocated to RUNR
16/04/2010	M126	Juvenile	No	3	No
17/04/2010	F169	Adult	No	4	Yes
21/04/2010	F167	Adult	Yes	4	Yes (2009)*
22/04/2010	F170	Adult	No	4	Yes
23/04/2010	F157	Adult with PY	Yes	4.5	No
8/08/2010	F171	Adult	No	4	Yes
8/08/2010	F172	Adult	No	4	Yes
15/08/2010	M127	Adult	No	4	Yes
16/08/2010	F173	Adult	No	4	Yes
17/08/2010	F175	Adult	No	3	Yes
18/08/2010	M128	Adult	No	4	Yes
14/08/2018	F174	Adult	No	4.5	Yes*

*Indicates individuals fitted with radio tracking collars.

When wombat F157 was trapped, she was found to be carrying a pouch young and therefore was unsuitable for translocation. It was great to see recruitment in the EFNP population. The joey was about 50mm long but it was not possible to determine the sex.

These trapping sessions marked the end of trapping for 2010; the population of northern hairy-nosed wombats at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge was now 15 (6 males and 9 females).