This page contains a number of links to various sources of wombat information that is available in various media forms, plus items that can be purchased from carers/artists who have set up their own companies. If you know of some more, please let me know at
The Wombat: Common Wombats in Australia
Barbara Triggs, University of New South Wales Press Ltd, Sydney, 1988. ISBN 0 86840 263 X
Possibly one of the most definitive books on common wombats and wombat care. If you only buy one book on wombats, then this one is it.
The Secret Life of Wombats
James Woodford, The Text Publishing Company, Melbourne, 2001. ISBN 1 876485 86 8
Another great reference book. James is one of the few people that has seen all wombat varieties in Australia - Common, Southern and Northern hairy-nosed. Well researched and contains some good historical information on wombats.
Wombats R.T. Wells & P.A Pridmore, Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty Ltd, Chipping Norton, 1998. ISBN 0 949324 81 7
An academic book written in association with The Royal Zoological Society of South Australia and contains a number of academic papers on wombats ranging from evolution, behaviour, population ecology and so forth. The book does lean towards the Southern Hairy-nosed wombat, but there are papers on the common wombat and the Northern Hairy-nosed. This book is for your wombat boffin and contains excellent research material.
Australian Geographic (Magazine), Number Thirty, April-June 1993 Secret World of the Wombat - Above and below ground with the largest burrowing marsupial.
An excellent, all-round article on wombats within Australia. If you're after a 15 page synopsis on wombats along with some brilliant photos, this is the article you should be looking for.
Nature Australia (Magazine), Summer 2001-2002, Volume 27, Number 3 Life in a Wombat Burrow - How do wombats on a low-cal diet afford to build their renowned massive warren complexes?
Examines how wombats (in particular Southern Hairy-nosed wombats) can afford to expend precious energy in a harsh environment digging a burrow to live in. Great research with facts leading to believe that a wombat digging a 10 metre long burrow (25ft) would require a greater energy investment than walking 120 kilometres (74 miles).
Good Reading (Children's Books)
Diary of a Wombat
Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley, Angus & Robertson, 2002. ISBN 0 207 19995 7
A children's novel, but if you're a wildlife carer who has looked after a wombat, then you can relate to this book. The story and illustrations are gorgeous and will have you in fits of laughter.
Harry the Hairy-Nosed Wombat
Jill Morris, illustrated by Rich Richardson, Golden Press Ltd, Gladesville, 1970.
(No ISBN specified)
Tells the delightful story of a hairy nosed wombat who takes on the modern world of road works engineers and has his way.
The Wombat Who Talked to the Stars: The Journal of a Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat
Jill Morris & Sharon Dye, Greater Glider Productions, Maleny, 1997. ISBN 0 947304 28 2
This is more of a children's book, but if you love wombats, then this book is a must have. Beautifully illustrated and winner of a number of awards.
Wombat Goes Walkabout
Micheal Morpurgo & Christian Birmingham, HarperCollins Publishers, London, 1999. ISBN 0 00 664627 1
A young wombat saves his bush friends from a bush fire with careful thinking and quick digging. (The illustrated wombat reminds us of Chomp!)
Wombat's Secret
Rebecca Johnson, Photos by Steve Parish, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1 74021192 8
A book meant for toddlers and parents, but with a charming
story and excellent wildlife photography.
Video/TV
Wombats: Bulldozers of the Bush.
An Australian Broadcasting Commission video documentary on wombats. Has some great footage (including 'burrow cam') and some night vision footage of a very determined wombat getting under an electric fence.
Produced by: ABC Natural History Unit http://www.abc.net.au/abcinternational/s33769.htm
Australian Story: The Wombat Boy (aired Monday, 25th March, 2002)
An Australian Broadcasting Commission documentary on Peter Nicholson, who in the 1960s as a young schoolboy in Victoria, was fascinated by wombats and their burrows and explored their secret world. Peter's findings have stood the test of time, and most wombat articles refer to this teenager's explorations. http://www.abc.net.au/austory/archives/
AustoryArchivesIdx_Monday25March2002.htm
Quantum - Wombats (aired Thursday, 28th October, 1999)
This is another Australian Broadcasting Commission TV science program with a segment on wombats. In particular, this segment investigated wombat burrows and examined temperature and carbon dioxide levels (or rather, a lack of, telling us that burrows are well ventilated). Wombats know how to build their homes all right. http://www.abc.net.au/quantum/stories/s59609.htm
Fourth Crossing Wildlife
A delightful site run by a wildlife carer that has some wonderful stories and photographs. Additional pictures and stories of wombats can be found on Linda and Todd's site.
Stichting Ice-X
Can you believe this!? A mountaineering/climbing expedition site in the Netherlands that has the wombat as their mascot. They were so impressed with Russell, they've put pictures up of him on their site (Note: contents of the site is in Dutch and English).
Wombat
Rise Sanctuary
Located in South Australia, Wombat Rise Sanctuary is a home
for injured and orphaned wildlife. Contains wonderful information
on the Southern Hairy-nosed wombat.
The official home of the Wombies, Binky, Winky, Twink, and Fraz. These genetically-engineered wombats escaped to America to find their destiny...and their long-lost human relative, who now looks after them. Also features Club Wombania which has puzzles and games for kids.
"Womland" A wonderful website hosted by a Japanese lady who adores wombats. Some excellent photos of "Chewbacca", a common wombat who is resident in Tokyo zoo, as well as other wombat photos, information and links. (Note: contents of the site is in Japanese)
World Wide Wombat Web
A website that is doing a great effort to act as a central point for links to other wombat related web sites. Most of the links that are displayed on this page, you'll also find on this one.
Things to buy
Some items for sale here are made by other wildlife carers/organisations within Australia. The proceeds of the sale of these items assists the carers in being able to feed and help care for Australian wildlife, as all work is done on a volunteer basis and through little (if any) funding.
We are also keen to promote artists and their drawings/depictions of wombats. As far as we are concerned, the more people that know about this 'unsung marsupial', the better.
Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat T-shirts and gifts
Download this order form ( version 6 PDF file - approx 250kb) so that you can purchase Northern Hairy-nosed cards, posters, t-shirts, caps, and polo shirts. A wide variety of colours and sizes (including children's) are available. Proceeds from the sale of these items helps the recovery process for the Northern Hairy-nosed wombat.
Navy peaked cap
Navy men's polo top
Embossed silver logo on polo top
Wombadilliac Visit our own online store where you can purchase various stationery items depicting the wombats that you've seen on these pages. Items include wombat calendars and wombat greeting cards. All proceeds of sales assist in the care and rehabilitation of common wombats.
Australian Native T-Shirts
Australian Native T-Shirts is a family owned and operated business, based in Sydney Australia. Here's what they are offerring in terms of wombat related merchandise.
Capital Chocolates Chocolates in the shapes of Australian native animals. Proceeds go towards RSPCA Wildlife ACT.
Creature T-shirts
Fancy a wombat T-shirt, or a T-shirt depicting other Australian wildlife? Creature T-shirts has a wonderful range of T-shirts, plus an art gallery and educational information on snakes of Tasmania. They have also made a film, "Detour (on the wheelie of life)" which has won an AFI film award.
Melinda Perrin Ink Melinda is an Australian artist who enjoys illustrating Australian wildlife. Melinda has embarked on a series of wildlife art, starting with a "Wildlife in Pencil" collection. A percentage of Melinda's work goes towards wildlife charities.
Digger 'Digger' is a web comic created by Ursuala Vernon and hosted by Graphics Smash.
Targetted for an older audience and with a quirky sense of
humour, Digger is about a female wombat that started to dig
one day and ended up 'lost' in another land. Updated twice
weekly on the web, Volume 1 is available for purchase.
version 6 PDF file - approx 250kb)
