Wombats in the wild are facing a serious threat caused by mange, a disease that was introduced to Australia from Europe over 200 years ago. Today, approximately 70% of common wombats are infected with this deadly disease, which, if left untreated, leads to their death. With growing concerns for the fate of these iconic Australian marsupials, several organisations are striving to save them.

One such organisation is Wombat Rescue, which works closely with our Embassy and is dedicated to rescuing, treating, and rehabilitating wombats affected by mange in the Canberra region. The aim is to return healthy wombats to the wild, where they can continue their natural lives. However, this requires both expert assistance and financial resources.

Prague Zoo, the only zoo in the Czech Republic that has been housing wombats since 2021, has decided to support this initiative. Thanks to its generous financial contribution of 400,000 CZK, new enclosures for the "soft release" of rehabilitated wombats back into their natural habitat will be built. This method allows wombats a gradual return to the wild, increasing their chances of survival.

The Czech Ambassador to Canberra, Ms Jana Tyrer, facilitated this important collaboration between Prague Zoo and Wombat Rescue, and thanks to this support, more wombats can be saved and given the care they need to return to the wild and live naturally.

The process of building the enclosures is highly demanding and involves several key steps. Firstly, meshes are laid around the perimeter to prevent wombats from escaping and to keep wild wombats out. Corrugated metal panels are then placed on the meshes, erected vertically, and secured into the ground. To ensure the comfort and safety of the wombats, manmade burrows are also installed within these enclosures, providing cool and secure shelters.

The entire initiative culminated last week with a visit from the Ambassador to Prague Zoo, where she had the opportunity to see the wombats within the so-called Darwin’s Crater and to thank Director Miroslav Bobek for his significant contribution to the protection of Australian fauna.

We believe that this collaboration is an important step towards the protection of wombats and the preservation of this wonderful species for future generations.

More photos are available on our Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/CZEmbassyCanberra/