{"id":8227,"date":"2020-08-03T12:57:59","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T12:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/?p=8227"},"modified":"2020-12-11T12:23:47","modified_gmt":"2020-12-11T12:23:47","slug":"wombat-rescue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/03\/wombat-rescue\/","title":{"rendered":"My Lockdown Life With Three Baby Wombats"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>In March 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Melbourne was ordered into lockdown. For wildlife carer Emily Small, that meant working from home in her top-floor apartment &#8211; with three orphaned wombats.<\/h2>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, working in her Melbourne inner-city apartment, with two orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) named Landon (6 months old) and Bronson (7 months old), sleeping in a home-made pouch.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653207-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, working in her Melbourne inner-city apartment, with two orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) named Landon (6 months old) and Bronson (7 months old), sleeping in a home-made pouch.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>Driving down a dark road one night in East Gippsland,\u00a0Australia, a caring citizen\u00a0spotted a dead wombat.\u00a0Roadkill is a common sight\u00a0in Australia\u2014sometimes\u00a0found spray painted with a colourful cross (a mark that indicates the victim has been checked by an animal rescuer\u00a0or member of the public, and\u00a0confirmed dead). However,\u00a0this particular wombat carried\u00a0no such graffiti. Concerned,\u00a0the driver stopped the car.\u00a0Wombats are marsupials,\u00a0related to kangaroos and\u00a0koalas. And just like their close\u00a0cousins, the females have\u00a0pouches in which they carry\u00a0their offspring. A joey can sometimes survive for days in its dead mother\u2019s pouch. The wombat on the road\u2014a female, and a mother\u2014was definitely dead. But her joey had not yet suffered the same fate. The driver carefully scooped the baby out of the pouch and kept it warm and swaddled in a dark, quiet place overnight. In the morning, she called her local wildlife rescue organisation, who in turn contacted Emily Small.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Martins Creek and surrounds after 2019\/20 bushfires devastated the area. Rivers in the south-east of Australia endured drought, bushfires and intense rainfall in a brief period. The rains washed ash and mud into the rivers, creating a potential cascade of impacts on fish, invertebrates and platypus. Until the fires, the edge of the creek had wet temperate rainforest along its edge, bounded by wet and damp forest. Martins Creek Scenic Reserve, Nurran, Victoria, Australia. February 2020.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642352-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Martins Creek and surrounds after 2019\/20 bushfires devastated the area. Rivers in the south-east of Australia endured drought, bushfires and intense rainfall in a brief period. The rains washed ash and mud into the rivers, creating a potential cascade of impacts on fish, invertebrates and platypus. Until the fires, the edge of the creek had wet temperate rainforest along its edge, bounded by wet and damp forest. Martins Creek Scenic Reserve, Nurran, Victoria, Australia. February 2020.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Common \/ coarse-haired wombat (Vombatus ursinus) laying dead on the edge of Bonang Road, the victim of a car strike. An orange cross has been spray painted on its body to show others it has already been checked for a potential joey in its pouch that may have survived the impact. The forest in the background was burnt during the 2019\/20 bushfires that devastated the area. Goongerah, Victoria, Australia. February 2020.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01642322-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Common \/ coarse-haired wombat (Vombatus ursinus) laying dead on the edge of Bonang Road, the victim of a car strike. An orange cross has been spray painted on its body to show others it has already been checked for a potential joey in its pouch that may have survived the impact. The forest in the background was burnt during the 2019\/20 bushfires that devastated the area. Goongerah, Victoria, Australia. February 2020.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>Emily is the founder of the Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, which she co-manages with her mother Sharon. The facility cares for orphaned, sick and injured wombats, rehabilitating them for release back into the wild. Most of the orphans that come into care have lost their mothers due to vehicle collisions, just like the East Gippsland joey that Emily took under her wing. It was the third car strike orphan that she and Sharon had rescued in as many months. Wombats can also fall victim to mange, dog attacks, persecution by farmers, and bushfires. During the unprecedented 2019-2020 bushfires, the forests of East Gippsland\u2014where the Goongerah orphanage is based\u2014were turned into disaster zones. The orphanage itself survived, but the wombats in the region were horribly impacted. Normally, these partly subterranean marsupials can shelter from flames in their underground burrows. But this time, the reality was far bleaker: \u201cThe bushfire was too intense, most animals died,\u201d says Emily.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Emily Small,one of the founders of the Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, sits on the veranda of her house, with her ragdoll cat \u2018Cotton&#039;, shortly after the 2019\/20 bushfires devastated the area.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653523-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Emily Small,one of the founders of the Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, sits on the veranda of her house, with her ragdoll cat \u2018Cotton&#039;, shortly after the 2019\/20 bushfires devastated the area.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"A 6-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;, is bottle fed a food supplement by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653211-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A 6-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;, is bottle fed a food supplement by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Sharon Small, one of the founders of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, sitting at home after the 2019\/20 bushfires devastated the area.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653525-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Sharon Small, one of the founders of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, sitting at home after the 2019\/20 bushfires devastated the area.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>\u201cThere were no insects for a week, no birds for weeks&#8230;\u201d The few wombats that did survive the blaze emerged to habitats that had been obliterated\u2014their only food sources reduced to piles of ash and scorched earth. Emily travelled out into the nearby properties that had safe access, making sure the wombats had enough food and water in the aftermath. She took in one starving wombat, and was able to rehabilitate him for a successful release. The rest had to be euthanised due to severity of their burns. Then a second disaster struck, hot on the heels of the first. Within a few months of the fires, COVID-19 swept across the globe. Emily would normally travel between work and the orphanage, juggling wombat care with her role as Operations Supervisor for Wildlife Victoria, an emergency response service for sick, injured or orphaned animals. But amid government orders to stay at home, and lockdown restrictions that made long distance travel difficult (if not impossible), Emily had to relocate the orphaned wombats 450km west, from the orphanage to her top-floor apartment in inner city Melbourne. Since May, she has been raising the youngsters in her home\/ improvised care facility\u2014and life has been far from dull.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"A 6-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;, is bottle fed a food supplement by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653196-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A 6-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;, is bottle fed a food supplement by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p><em>Above:\u00a0Emily feeds Bronson, while Landon relaxes in his pouch. The baby wombats are given a specialised milk formula from a bottle, which Emily makes up in her kitchen and gently warms beforehand.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Landon, Bronson &amp; Beatrice<\/h3>\n<p>The wombats in Emily\u2019s care are common or bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) \u2013 a name which distinguishes them from the two species of hairy-nosed wombats (Northern and Southern) that are also found in Australia. The first orphans Emily brought home were two males called Landon and Bronson, rescued in March and April respectively, and relocated to her apartment in May. Both were found on the road, in their dead mothers\u2019 pouches. In June, they were joined by a female called Beatrice, another car strike orphan who was brought directly to Emily\u2019s apartment form East Gippsland. The trio aren\u2019t the first wombats Emily has cared for. Seventeen years ago, she and her mother Sharon were handed an orphaned joey to look after, and that was the start of the Goongerah Wombat Orphanage. Since then, the orphanage has received a steady stream of wombat joeys \u2013 between six to eight every year.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"A 9-month-old orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Beatrice&#039;, exploring apartment.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653154-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A 9-month-old orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Beatrice&#039;, exploring apartment.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"A 6-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;, held by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653197-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A 6-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;, held by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"A 7-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;;Bronson&#039;, in a home-made pouch. Cared for by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653191-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A 7-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;;Bronson&#039;, in a home-made pouch. Cared for by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"A 9-month-old orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Beatrice&#039;, exploring apartment.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653131-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A 9-month-old orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Beatrice&#039;, exploring apartment.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p><em>Beatrice, pictured here at 9 months old, explores Emily\u2019s apartment. A car strike orphan, she was found in her dead mother\u2019s pouch, on a roadside in East Gippsland. Beatrice wouldn\u2019t have been able to survive long without her mother, and was brought directly to Emily for round-the-clock care. (image 1)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cLandon is my little legend,\u201d says Emily. \u201cHe literally buzzes with excitement and races around, bouncing and letting out little happy scream-hisses. He has so much happiness that he is learning to control!\u201d (image 2)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cBronson is a little different, he sometimes can\u2019t cope with normally comfortable wombat situations, he gets a little worried. However, when he gets comfortable there is no stopping him. He wiggles and smiles and loves a snuggle.\u201d (image 3)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cBeatrice is an independent warrior wombat. Initially when she first came into care she would launch, growl and try to attack me. I knew it was out of fear as she came into care a little older, it means they have more awareness about threats and she was trying to seem as scary as possible (which she was). She is now the sweetest, gentlest orphan with a playful and trusting heart.\u201d (image 4)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>What Are The Challenges of Raising Wombats in an Inner City Apartment?<\/h3>\n<p>Unlike Goongerah, which is nestled amongst national parks and rainforests, Emily\u2019s apartment lacks grass and dirt. These key elements contain the microbes the wombats need for optimum gut health. Emily has to try and replicate what would normally be an outdoor enclosure, indoors, growing grass taken from Goongerah on the balcony of her apartment. She has also collected dirt in a jar to let the orphans eat\/play, and bark and sticks for them to chew on. Having three wombats under her care while trying to work from home can be a challenge for Emily.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-6' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, makes up a wombat feed supplement, whilst holding &#039;Bronson&#039; (8 months old), one of the three orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) in her care.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653087-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, makes up a wombat feed supplement, whilst holding &#039;Bronson&#039; (8 months old), one of the three orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) in her care.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, watering grass she is growing in her Melbourne inner city apartment that will be used to supplemently feed three orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus).\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653102-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, watering grass she is growing in her Melbourne inner city apartment that will be used to supplemently feed three orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus).\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Dirt collected from Goongerah in a glass jar. This will be given to three orphaned and rescued bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) to snuffle and digest as part of their care as it contains microbes and fungus in it that they need for their gut health.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653106-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Dirt collected from Goongerah in a glass jar. This will be given to three orphaned and rescued bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) to snuffle and digest as part of their care as it contains microbes and fungus in it that they need for their gut health.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>\u201cThey are so cute and distracting,\u201d she says, \u201cand like many children, when awake, they need and want your attention!\u201d Emily can only leave the apartment for\u00a0about an hour at a time as the orphans need to be fed 4-5 times a day. When they fall asleep after feeds, she simply places them in one of her two wombat cots and sneaks out. The wombat part of Emily\u2019s life is voluntary. She jokingly says \u201cI do it in my \u2018spare time\u2019, but I literally have the complete opposite of spare time\u201d. Raising the orphans in Melbourne allows Emily to be close to her full-time job with Wildlife Victoria: \u201cI am lucky\u00a0that I have an understanding workplace and can usually duck home and feed the wombats. I need to work to be able to afford to look after myself and the orphans, I am just grateful that my job is in line with my passion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Relocating her wombat work to Melbourne comes with some advantages too\u2014such as 24-hour access to power,\u00a0water and gas. The Goongerah orphanage is off the grid, running on bottled gas and a new solar system from bushfire recovery support. Conversely, Emily\u2019s apartment has unlimited power, allowing her to heat milk bottles easily, and do four loads of laundry per day (like kids, wombats pee, poo, and mess their sheets).<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-7' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, makes up a wombat feed supplement, whilst holding &#039;Bronson&#039; an orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) aged 9 months.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653118-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, makes up a wombat feed supplement, whilst holding &#039;Bronson&#039; an orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) aged 9 months.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, applies PawPaw ointment (a product made for skin from fermented papaw fruit), to the feet of Bronson, an 8-month-old orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus).\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653099-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, applies PawPaw ointment (a product made for skin from fermented papaw fruit), to the feet of Bronson, an 8-month-old orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus).\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"An 8-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Landon&#039;, bottle fed a food supplement by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653141-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"An 8-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Landon&#039;, bottle fed a food supplement by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"One 7 and one 8-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus), &#039;Bronson&#039; (partially visible) and &#039;Landon&#039;, in a home-made pouch. Cared for by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653083-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"One 7 and one 8-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus), &#039;Bronson&#039; (partially visible) and &#039;Landon&#039;, in a home-made pouch. Cared for by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p><em>Emily fills up the orphans\u2019 milk bottles at feeding time. She aims to replicate the nurturing lifestyle they would have received with their mother as much as possible, helping to eventually promote a successful release back into their natural habitat.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Bronson\u2019s feet are treated with PawPaw ointment (a skin product made from fermented papaw fruit). Wombat mothers naturally produce a thick waxy substance in their pouch to lubricate the joey. Emily keeps the fleshy bits (paws and nose) lubricated, to stop the skin becoming dry and cracked.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-8' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, in her apartment, holding \u2018Landon&#039; a bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) male, age 6 months.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653222-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, in her apartment, holding \u2018Landon&#039; a bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) male, age 6 months.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, holding a 6-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653181-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, holding a 6-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Two male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Bronson&#039; and &#039;Landon&#039;, asleep in a home-made pouch, (aged 6 and 7 months). Cared for by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653201-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Two male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Bronson&#039; and &#039;Landon&#039;, asleep in a home-made pouch, (aged 6 and 7 months). Cared for by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>Emily has been rescuing wombats for seventeen years, ever since she and her mother were handed an orphaned joey to look after.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWombats are incredibly affectionate and can spend up to three 3 years with their mum in the wild,\u201d Emily says. \u201cI try to replicate that bond as much as possible, whilst responding to their individual needs and ensuring they have the necessary skills to be released. Wombats have more personality than any cat or dog I\u2019ve met and each orphan has their own unique character.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-9' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, working in her Melbourne inner-city apartment, with an orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named Bronson (7 months old), in a home-made pouch.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653168-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, wildlife rescuer and carer, working in her Melbourne inner-city apartment, with an orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named Bronson (7 months old), in a home-made pouch.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>How Has The Pandemic Affected Emily&#8217;s Wombat Rescue Work?<\/h3>\n<p>The pandemic has affected Emily\u2019s rescue work in several ways. It\u2019s been challenging getting supplies such as the specialised wombat milk formula, since the post has been much slower. Keeping sufficient supplies has also been harder, and travel restrictions have made it difficult to get back to the Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, where Emily\u2019s mother continues to care for three other orphans in an outdoor enclosure (as well as the 20 that have been fully released and continue to visit for supplementary feeds that Sharon provides). Emily must keep travelling to an absolute minimum and only for necessary scenarios such as rescues, transports and care support, but extra hygiene and social distancing protocols have to be put in place when attending rescues and dealing with the public.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-10' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"An 8-month-old orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Landon&#039;, bottle fed a food supplement by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653127-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"An 8-month-old orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Landon&#039;, bottle fed a food supplement by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"An 8-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Landon&#039;, bottle fed a food supplement by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653139-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"An 8-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Landon&#039;, bottle fed a food supplement by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"An 8-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;, in a home-made pouch. Cared for by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653135-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"An 8-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;, in a home-made pouch. Cared for by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>On 8th July, amid a second wave of coronavirus, the entire city of Melbourne was ordered back into lockdown for at least another six weeks. Photographer Doug Gimesy was able to visit Emily at the last minute to document her rescue work, but had to be fastidious about safety; such as wearing a mask, sanitising his hands and equipment when entering and leaving the apartment, and maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres.<\/p>\n<h3>How Are The Orphans Doing Now?<\/h3>\n<p>Bronson was unwell for a while with a bad tummy, and Beatrice came into care extremely stressed and scared. She would act defensively, which meant Emily had to spend extra time easing her into her new life as an orphan. That meant lots of bonding time and slower introductions into activities such as being put in a pouch and feeding from an artificial teat. All three orphans are now doing really well, and putting on weight.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-11' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"A 9-month-old orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Beatrice&#039;, running in apartment.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653164-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A 9-month-old orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Beatrice&#039;, running in apartment.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Two orphaned and rescued male baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) in a cot. &#039;Bronson&#039; (left) and &#039;Landon&#039; (right). With local soil and grass placed in the cot.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653108-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Two orphaned and rescued male baby bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) in a cot. &#039;Bronson&#039; (left) and &#039;Landon&#039; (right). With local soil and grass placed in the cot.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"A 8-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Bronson&#039; in a cot. With local soil and grass placed in the cot.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653110-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A 8-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) &#039;Bronson&#039; in a cot. With local soil and grass placed in the cot.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>When they are about 10\/11 months old, they will be moved back to Goongerah so they can be put in outside enclosures. This will help acclimatise them to natural sounds and smells, as well as practice their natural behaviours, such as digging and interacting with other wombats. Initially, they will only be outside during the day (and brought in at night) and during this time, they will still be bottle fed. Eventually, when about 12 months old (and about 7-10kgs), they will be left outside in the enclosures. Then, when about 16-25kg and about 18 months old, Emily will say goodbye and they will be released back into the wild.<\/p>\n<p>For now, that day is still a long way off. Emily will continue working from home for a while yet, together with her furry flatmates. Undaunted by the task ahead, she is dedicated to her life as a wombat warrior. When asked about the prospect of more weeks in lockdown with the orphans, she smiles. \u201cIt\u2019s just my life. I have been doing this for a long time, and have learnt ways of efficiency and preparedness. It takes many mistakes and long sleepless nights, paramounts of exhaustion and tears; but it\u2019s just something I must do. Besides, how can having baby wombats around you not be good company?\u201d<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-12' class='gallery gallery-8227 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"A 6-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;, held by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/01653214-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"A 6-month-old male orphaned and rescued baby bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named &#039;Landon&#039;, held by Emily Small, founder of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Supporting the work of Goongerah Wombat Orphanage<\/h3>\n<p>Every quarter, Nature Picture Library selects a conservation project to support with a donation. For the quarter October &#8211; December 2020, we selected Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, and we made a donation of \u00a3750 towards the cost of rebuilding the orphanage and creating new outdoor enclosures, after the devastation caused by the bushfires. Emily was delighted with this financial support towards the important work of the orphanage. She sent us this message of appreciation: &#8220;thank you again for supporting us and helping to spread our wombats\u2019 voice&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>To find out\u00a0 more about Goongerah Wombat Orphanage and the other conservation organisations Nature Picture Library has supported in recent years, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/conservation\">our conservation page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>You can view an extended gallery of wombat rescue images <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/-stories\/feature-stories\/wombat-rescue.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>, and view this story as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/pictures\/pdfs\/NPL_Wombat_Rescue.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pdf here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For licensing queries,\u00a0please contact <a href=\"mailto:timaldred@naturepl.com\">Tim Aldred<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In March 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Melbourne was ordered into lockdown. For wildlife carer Emily Small, that meant working from home in her top-floor apartment &#8211; with three orphaned wombats. Driving down a dark road one night in East Gippsland,\u00a0Australia, a caring citizen\u00a0spotted a dead wombat.\u00a0Roadkill is a common sight\u00a0in Australia\u2014sometimes\u00a0found&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/03\/wombat-rescue\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"button\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3,4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-stories","category-conservation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8227"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8227"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9494,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8227\/revisions\/9494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}