A TRIAL run by ACT Wildlife to treat mange in Tharwa wombats is crucial and the director of ACT Parks and Conservation, Daniel Iglesias says mange in wombats has the potential to wipe out local populations. 

Iglesias says: “It is a mite infestation which causes thickening of the skin, loss of fur and ultimately a painful death. It is a horrible disease so I am pleased there has been such a high level of interest in the program.”

ACT Wildlife has received $19,830 in funding from the ACT Environment Grants Program to help treat mange in local wombat populations.

“Volunteers have been provided with information on mange and how it impacts wombats before then being trained on the installation of special burrow flaps that can administer a cydectin wash to the wombat to kill the mites.”

ACT Wildlife secretary and mange project manager Dee Harmer says that much of the volunteer workload involved repairs and replacements to flaps that have been damaged and displaced by the wombats and filling the flaps with Cydectin. 

“The volunteers mainly work on weekends to help with the maintenance of the burrow flaps. They also check and move monitoring cameras at the treatment sites and will continue to carry out the weekly treatment processes until next month,” Harmer says.