Wombats are iconic Australian marsupials facing threats from mange, habitat loss, and vehicle strikes. Their welfare needs are increasingly studied as populations come under pressure.
Sarcoptic mange is the most significant welfare threat to common wombats. Infested animals suffer intense itching, hair loss, skin thickening, and eventual blindness. Treatment programs using flap-and-trap burrow dosing with permethrin have shown effectiveness. Orphaned joeys require skilled marsupial care. Northern hairy-nosed wombats number fewer than 300 individuals, making each animal critical to the species.