By Callum Ludwig
An opportunity to learn about the plight of one of our favourite native animals is coming up.
Katja Gutwein is the Vice-Preisdent and Secretary of Mange Management is set to be the key speaker for a ‘Wombat Webinar’ that is open for Yarra Ranges residents to tune into.
Ms Gutwein said she started out as a registered wildlife carer, raising native wildlife including wombats and then got involved with wombats with mange, as a founding member of Mange Management.
“Wombats face a lot of threats, not only mange but also road accidents, loss of habitat and legal/illegal culling and I’ll talk about all of these in my webinar,” she said.
“Pretty much all of these threats would apply to the population in the Yarra Ranges, in fact, it’s a hot spot for mange there as mites like cool and moist conditions.”
Wombats are one of the most affected species by mange, caused by the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows into the skin of its host (often wombats, foxes or dogs) causing thick, crusty skin, and hair loss.
Ms Gutwein said it is very urgent to protect and look after wombats, as numbers have decreased drastically.
“In some areas, there have been reports that wombats used to live there but not anymore, so local populations are being wiped out, an example of this is Narawntapu Nations Park in Tasmania where over 250 wombats used to live, and now there’s less than 5, as they’ve been all wiped out by mange,” she said.
“If we don’t do anything now, wombats might become endangered in the next few decades or even extinct and we can’t afford to lose such an iconic Australian animal.”
Ms Gutwein encouraged residents to report wombats with mange to Mange Management via their website mangemanagement.org.au where they can also enquire to volunteer or donate while also spreading the word that wombats with mange can be treated.
For any injured wombats, she recommended residents report them to a wildlife rescue organisation and urged motorists to slow down at night and check pouches of wombats or other wildlife that has been hit and killed on the roads.
Ms Gutwein said it’s very important to show respect and love for these beautiful creatures, they still often have a bad reputation.
“We at Mange Management are doing our best to raise the reputation of wombats so more people can see what amazing animals they are,” she said.
“They are eco-engineers and very important for soil health for example.”
The Wombat Webinar will take place from 7pm to 8pm on Tuesday 23 July.
To find out more about the event or register for access, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/Wombats.
