The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium just adopted an animal rarely seen in North American zoos: a southern hairy-nosed wombat.
The stocky marsupial, named Glen, arrived Nov. 4, making the Columbus Zoo one of only five in North America to house this species. The young wombat had been adapting to his new habitat in private, but -- as of today -- is officially on view at the Bob and Evelyn’s Roadhouse nocturnal building at the Zoo’s Australia and the Islands region.
Glen’s arrival, a milestone 12 years in the making, marks an important step in the Zoo’s conservation mission. As wombats continue to lose their native habitats in southern and western Australia due to agricultural developments and drought, zoos have collaborated with the Australian government to protect this species. Complying with the Australian ambassador agreement is a lengthy process, however, and zoos overseas may have to wait several years before being able to adopt a wombat.
This is a good thing, said Shannon Morarity, assistant curator of the Australia and the Islands region, because it ensures that any zoo with a wombat has the proper space and enrichment activities, and that its keepers have wombat-specific training.
Some of Glen’s enrichment activities involve lots of opportunities to dig. Called “bulldozers of the bush,” wombats are powerful excavators. They live underground in complex tunnel systems called warrens, where they can avoid the heat from their semi-arid native lands. While as many as 10 wombats may live in a single warren, these animals lead solitary lives, usually interacting with their neighbors only to reproduce.
Wombats have a reputation for being ornery and aggressive. Glen, however, seems to be of the complaisant variety.
“He is very laid back and extremely curious,” Morarity said. “Because of this, he spends a good amount of his day exploring his habitat and utilizing his dig pits made of sand and dirt.”
“He is loveable and sweet,” Morarity continued. “We are so happy that his transition to our facility has been so seamless.”
In addition to melting hearts, Glen spends his days munching on a limitless supply of hay as well as some grains and root vegetables. He also enjoys green beans, bananas and squash as a special treat.
Like kangaroos, koalas and opossums, wombats are pouched mammals known as marsupials. The wombat is born the size of a jelly bean after a 21-day gestation period. The tiny newborn then climbs into the mother’s pouch, where it develops for the next six months. The juvenile is weaned after about a year and reaches its full size and sexual maturity at three years. An adult weighs about 40 to 70 pounds.
Glen was born Aug. 19, 2013 at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.
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Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 575 species from around the globe, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads and inspires by connecting people and wildlife. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Course. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also operates the Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a regional attraction with global impact; annually contributing more than $2 million of privately raised funds to support conservation projects worldwide. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.
