“Look at his little face!”
Last month, while hiking on Tasmania’s Maria Island, Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young and her friend stumbled upon a charming scene in the bush. There, amidst the greenery, they spotted a wombat contentedly munching on foliage.
As they admired the wombat, they were in for an unexpected treat. The wombat was accompanied by a tiny surprise—her baby, peeking out from the rear-facing pouch. The sight of the little joey nestled safely while sharing the meal with its mother was heartwarming.
“Just look at that adorable face!” the hikers marveled.
This delightful encounter showcased the unique anatomy of wombats. Unlike kangaroos, which have front-facing pouches, wombats possess rear-facing pouches. This adaptation prevents dirt from entering the pouch as they dig their extensive burrows.
Luckily for wombat mothers, carrying their young this way is only a temporary arrangement. By around 8 months of age, the joeys venture out of their mothers’ pouches to explore the world on their own.