History of Wombat in Timeline
Wombats are short-legged, muscular marsupials native to Australia. They belong to the family Vombatidae and are quadrupedal. They typically reach about 1 meter in length, have small, stubby tails, and weigh between 20 and 35 kg. Wombats are adaptable and can be found in various habitats such as forests, mountains, and heathlands across southern and eastern Australia, including Tasmania and a specific area in Queensland.
1906: Wombats Classified as Vermin
In 1906, wombats were classified as vermin, leading to population decline.
1925: Wombat Bounty Introduced
In 1925, a bounty was introduced for wombats, further reducing their numbers.
1974: Wombat on 20-cent Stamp
In 1974, the northern hairy-nosed wombat featured on an Australian 20-cent stamp.
1981: Wombat on Five-cent Stamp
In 1981, the northern hairy-nosed wombat also appeared on an Australian five-cent stamp.
1987: Wombat on 37-cent Stamp
In 1987, the common wombat appeared on a 37-cent stamp.
1992: Nature Conservation Act
In 1992, the northern hairy-nosed wombat is a critically endangered species under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act.
1996: Wombat on 95-cent Stamp
In 1996, the common wombat appeared on an Australian 95-cent stamp.
1998: Wombat on Silver Coin
In 1998, the northern hairy-nosed wombat appeared on an Australia Silver Proof $10 coin.
1999: Biodiversity Conservation Act
In 1999, the northern hairy-nosed wombat is a critically endangered species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
2000: Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat Mascot
In 2000, "Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat" was the tongue-in-cheek "unofficial" mascot of the Sydney Olympics.
2005: Wombat on Commemorative Coin
In 2005, the common wombat appeared on a commemorative $1 coin.
2005: Wombat Day Observed
Since 2005, an unofficial holiday called Wombat Day has been observed on 22 October.
2006: Wombat on Bush Babies Stamp
In 2006, the Australian Bush Babies stamp series featured an AU$1.75 stamp of a baby common wombat.
April 2010: Man Mauled by Wombat
In April 2010, a 59-year-old man in rural Victoria, Australia, was mauled by a wombat, resulting in cuts and bite marks that required hospital treatment.
2010: Wombat on Rescue to Release Stamp
In 2010, the Rescue to Release series featured a 60-cent stamp of a common wombat being treated by a veterinarian.
2016: WomSAT Established
In 2016, WomSAT, a citizen science project, was established to record wombat sightings across Australia.
2019: Ig Nobel Prize for Physics
In 2019, Patricia Yang and David Hu won the Ig Nobel Prize for Physics for their research on how wombats produce cube-shaped feces.
2020: Discovery of Bio-fluorescence
In 2020, biologists discovered that wombats, like many other Australian marsupials, display bio-fluorescence under ultraviolet light.
May 2021: Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat Population Increase
By May 2021, the population of the northern hairy-nosed wombat had increased to around 315, up from a low of 35 in the 1980s.
