I have a lifelong obsession with wombats, so my online gallery would not be complete without a dedicated page to these beautiful creatures in their natural environment - or while in the care of a wildlife sanctuary or wildlife carer for rehabilitation.
It all began when I was about 8 or 9 years old. One day, I was walking home from school and noticed a large stuffed wombat in the window of a gift shop. I immediately fell in love! When I got home, I begged my dad to buy me the wombat, but he kept saying no to my many requests (as all good dads tend to do).
The next day, when passing by the store again, I was devastated that the wombat was no longer in the window. I felt that I missed my chance to have him, which was incredibly upsetting and I blamed my dad! According to a story my dad later told me, I threw a couple of tantrums over it. Little did I know, he already bought the wombat from the gift store and hid it away until my next birthday or Christmas (I can't remember which). When the time came to receive my gift, I unwrapped it and was instantly overwhelmed with excitement. I named him Willy.
Even though Willy isn't a real wombat, he is life-sized, and has a commanding place in my home today as a much-loved family member, even though I'm now in my 50s! He doesn't demand too much, and is always cute!
All my stuffed wombats (and I have many) have names that start with 'W', except for one named Gatsby who I named after a little orphan wombat I met on Flinders Island in Tasmania. My home and yard are full of wombat mementos (just ask my husband) of all different sizes and types — wooden, pewter, glass, stone, clay, plastic, Lego, fridge magnets, stickers, posters, and notebooks. I did mention I am obsessed, didn't I?!
The photos below are just a small collection of the many (real-life) wombats I have encountered over the years. Most are of wombats in their natural habitat, but some photos are of wombats in rescue and rehabilitation wildlife sanctuaries or orphans being cared for by dedicated wildlife carers.
When I grow up, I would love to be a wombat mum!
~ click on any image to view a larger size ~
Bare-nosed Wombat
Grazing mum and bub wombat - Maria Island, Tasmania
Grazing from the comfort and warmth of mum's pouch - Maria Island, Tasmania
Bare-nosed Wombat
Hello, I'm here! I'm in my mum's pouch! - Maria Island, Tasmania
Orphan wombats frolicking on the beach - Flinders Island, Tasmania
Bare-nosed Wombat (orphans)
Bare-nosed Wombat - Flinders Island sub-species (Vombatus ursinus ursinus)
Wombat mum and joey - Maria Island, Tasmania
Staying close to shelter
Bare-nosed Wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
Bare-nosed Wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
Wombat joey on the run in play (mum was just nearby)
Bare-nosed Wombat - Maria Island, Tasmania
Out of the pouch but hiding under mum
Bare-nosed Wombat mum and joey out playing and grazing - Maria Island, Tasmania
Bare-nosed Wombat joey bravely explores its surroundings, not far from mum - Maria Island, Tasmania
Wild wombat on the run - Maria Island, Tasmania
Hello out there - I'm here, inside my mum's pouch!
Wombat a-wandering in Tasmania
Got an itch? Scratch it!
A jolly wombat jig
Bare-nosed Wombat
The gentle gaze of a bashful wombat - Maria Island, Tasmania
Bare-nosed wombat
Wombat a-wandering in Tasmania
The chase is on! Yep, a male wombat pursuing a female wombat - Maria Island, Tasmania
Staying close to mum
Mum, wait for me! - Mum and bub wombats on Maria Island, Tasmania
Bare-nosed Wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
A wandering wombat at Lake Dobson, Mt Field National Park
Bare-nosed Wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
A wandering wombat at Lake Dobson, Mt Field National Park
Bare-nosed wombat (juvenile)
A wandering wombat at Lake Dobson, Mt Field National Park
Staying close to mum while grazing
The moment this wombat became aware of my (human) presence
