ORPHANED BABY WOMBAT MEETS A MAN WHO CHANGES HIS LIFE FOR GOOD

 

There is no difference between the love of a human mother and that of an animal mother for their offspring. A mother’s love doesn’t derive from the intellect but from the emotions, in animals just as humans. All that a child wants is her mother’s presence and not her presents. Nothing in this world could be compared to a mother’s love and no one else can replace the position a mother holds in one’s life. Yet, it’s life and it goes on…

This is a tale of a baby wombat and his mother. An incident changed the baby wombat’s life forever. Did it change for the good or was it for a bad one?

Australia

Australia is better known for its picturesque landscapes and soothing beaches. However, it is also a hub of rainforests. Some of the most beautiful tropical rainforests are found in Australia. The lush green trees, tall and moist atmosphere with the finest black soil, Australia makes for the best of vegetation cover. Nearly 3.6 million hectares of land in Australia is the forest. These forest covers experience high rainfall, lush growth and closed canopies. They also support a vast wildlife.

Australia’s Wildlife

Australia is the richest land when it comes to wildlife. It is one of the 17 megadiverse nations and is a home to a large variety of fauna species than any other developed country. Australia is a home to some of the most exotic and indigenous fauna. They are a natural habitat to koalas, kangaroos, wallaby, wombats, over 700 diverse set of birds, and some marine inhabitants as well. It is a perfect balance of flora and fauna in the world.

Wombats

Amongst the extraordinary unique wildlife of Australia, an animal that you won’t find anywhere else is a Wombat. This fury teddy like looking animal is an Australian Marsupial mammal. These cute looking animals are the closest relative to the koalas. They have very short muscular legs. They are slow movers but can run equally fast. Characteristically they are quite curious beings and this nature of them at times put them in danger.

Burrow Digging

Wombats are known for their burrow digging skills. They dig extensive burrow systems using their rodent-like front teeth and muscular claws. They would search for moist and cool climates and would start digging the mud to form a burrow for themselves. They are very particular about their territories namely the burrows they form and show extreme aggression when anyone intrudes their privacy. They have a distinct feature which makes them even more unique.

Backward Pouch

The most distinctive adaptation of a Wombat is its backward pouch. Since they have this habit of digging burrows, a backward pouch helps in the safety of their young. While they dig the burrows, the soil doesn’t accumulate in their pouches over their young ones. How beautifully has the mother nature designed different species?  When the two wombats went for a walk they didn’t know what was coming their way.

A Walk

This tale opens in an Australian Jungle, where a momma wombat and her baby wombat strolls around the nearing farm to hunt some food for themselves. They would be scratching their scents on the trees to locate some food. Though wombats have a very slow metabolic rate. Their metabolic cycle takes nearly 14 days to ensure complete digestion. Which is why they could survive for long periods even when starvation. While searching for food something terrific happened to this duo!

The Farm

There was a farm nearby where the wombats often showed up. Since there was plenty of livestock here, the wombats could easily satisfy their search of food hunt. That day also, just like any other day the momma wombat and the baby wombat passed by the place. What seemed to be a normal day soon turned out to be the life-changing one for this wombat family.

The Mishappening

While strolling around the farm, the mother wombat could smell the moist soil and run towards the spot. The baby wombat obediently followed his mother. While running towards the soil the elder wombat unintentionally scared a farm horse. The horse out of fear bonkers and unaware of the type of creature hastily kicked the mother wombat. The sight left the baby wombat in a state of shock.

Screaming In Pain

The momma wombat was screaming in pain. The horse had kicked her so bad that she could barely move and within seconds lost her conscious. She lay on the nearing fence and was totally motionless. The baby wombat could not understand what happened and was totally numb. He could not locate his mother and on the sight of the horse approaching, he too left the farm in search of his mom.

Searching For Momma

The little wombat was all lost and could not find his mom. He went to the outskirts of the farm in search of her. After searching for her, the little wombat could, at last, find her. Though he was scared to see her numb mom, he starts smelling and licking her. And what happens next was totally amazing.

Making A Move

Her baby’s call, make her move a little. The elder wombat was still in pain and she did not have enough energy to crawl back to the muddy burrow they were living in. The mother wombat was in much misery due to which even making a single move towards her place was getting challenging. To make the situation even worse it started raining and the family of wombats was all covered in mud.

Call For Help

Fortunately, a man around witnessed the entire situation and immediately put forward for help. He picked the mother wombat in his arms and caressed his back. He even calms her down by treating the spot where the horse kicked. But baby wombat was nowhere to be found. Where was he?

The Baby Wombat

Due to rain the baby wombat was stuck and was covered all in the mud. He could barely move due to swamp all around. The man took the baby wombat out of the muddy swamp and began to clean him. The man was no less than a knight in the shining armor. Who was this kind soul who approached for help to these wombats?

Wildlife Rescue South Coast

The man was a rescue worker at The Wildlife Rescue Centre in South Coast. WRSC is a large wildlife rescue group and is also a registered charitable organization who works on generosity and support. He has been a part of many rescue stories and had saved the lives of many such poor creatures. Even today, he offered a helping hand to this poor wombat family.

Treating The Wombats

The man bought the wombats to the rescue center and fed them with the much-needed food and water. He also treated them with various medicines. The condition of the mother wombat was quite critical. Even after providing with the needed help she would not show a much positive response. However, the baby wombat was lively and lied near her mother all the time. Suddenly the least expected happened.

The Unexpected

The condition of the mother wombat deteriorated day by day. The horse had kicked her hard on the head due to which her nervous system was not working properly. Even after operating her, the mother wombat could not survive. The departure of the elder wombat left the baby wombat in pain. He could not accept this fact. The way he reacted leaves the rescuers worried.

Seeming Lost

The baby wombat lost his vitality and vigor. He would be seen as depressed. The rescuers were worried as the baby wombat won’t eat nor would he play around. On reaching to him, the baby would step away. Not only do humans but the animal too lose the heart on such a separation. The rescuers knew he needs more of love and care.

New Friends

Since it was getting difficult for the baby wombat to survive alone the researchers shifted him with other baby wombats at the center. They thought he would mix up with them and would soon recover. But it seems that he did not appreciate this idea either. Rather he would often attack other wombats.

Loving Him

The rescuers’ sympathy towards this poor soul began to increase. They started to keep an eye on him and often caressed him. Though not fully recovered, baby wombat began reciprocating the love he got from the rescuers. He even got a new name.

Mudsey

The rescuers at the center in South Coast named the wombat Mudsey. This name was given as the baby wombat was found in the muddy surroundings and the first time when he arrived at the center he was all muddy. Mudsey started getting comfortable in her new home.

Healthy Food

Soon Mudsey started eating like before and regained his muscle mass. He would enjoy having corns in his meals and would also feed upon the grass. The rescuer team would add some supplements in his food which helped him recover fast from his poor state. Not only this but he began interacting with the other wombats he once used to attack.

Frolicking Around

Mudsey began enjoying the presence of other wombats around him. They turned into a family for him. He got a home away from home. People at rescue center says that he would run behind another wombat named Parsely and won’t leave his side for a second. He would enjoy his company the most.

Growing Closer

Mudsey and Parsely grew closer with time. They could be seen eating, playing and sleeping together. Everyone at the center started adoring these two baby wombats whose love was no less than the love between human siblings. The rescuers were happy to see Mudsey coming out of his depressed state.

Human Interaction

Looking at Mudsey, one could not judge about his tragic past. He did not let his unpleasant past shape his future. Not only this, but Mudsey was cherishing all the attention he was getting. Rescuer team there says that he became the only wombat who began enjoying the human interaction. Isn’t it amazing?

Dadda!

The man who saved the life of this baby wombat became Mudsey’s favorite. He would cuddle and snuggle around him. Out of love, he would at times hold his fingers and would play with him. The animal was showing all the love he had for his human daddy.

A Program

The wildlife rescue center had a special programme under which the animals rescued are returned to the wild. Under this act, even Mudsey was supposed to go back to his natural environment. To make things easy for Mudsey, the rescuers started leaving Mudsey out of the center for a few hours daily so that he becomes comfortable with the surroundings.

Lucky One

Though all the odds were stacked against Mudsey ever since his mother was kicked in the head by the farm horse, he was lucky enough that he could get the right people’s help. Not all animals are this lucky and Mudsey will surely be grateful to the Wildlife Rescue South Coast for all his life. They gifted him an all new life which was all about love and care.

Here are some interesting facts about wombats.

Rhino-Sized

The earliest marsupial species were of Diprotodon. And the longest one to live was found in Australia some 2.5 million years ago. That species was believed to weight 3 tons and stretch up to 14 feet from nose to tail.

Run Really Fast

Even with small stubble legs, these wombats can run really fast. Though they walk and dig burrows with small claws when it comes to running they are no less than marathon runners. They, when threatened, can run at a speed of 25 miles per hour with 90 seconds at a time.

Eats Hard Food

Though wombats are vegetarian beings they feed on scrubs, corns, and grass. They look for hard foods as they have special enzymes which have the tendency to break down roughage. Moreover, they have always growing teeth to make up for the constant wear.

Cube Shaped Poops

Wombats have some of the most distinct droppings on earth amongst all the other animals. They produce about 80 to 100 pieces of poop a night, and each one is a neat, cube-shaped package. They use these pieces to mark their territory.

Solitary Animals

A group of the wombat is often termed as “Wisdom”. A male northern hairy-nosed variety of wombat prefers staying along. They are shy creatures and lives in burrows. However, females are social beings who involve well with others.

Tough Posterior

While running away from predators the wombats rely upon their powered rumps to protect themselves. Their rear ends are cartilages which help them overcome scratches and bites. Also, they would jump into their burrows and even block the entrance using their bumps.

Three Species

There are mainly three different species of the wombats: a common wombat, the northern hairy-nosed wombats, and southern hairy-nosed wombats. While there are many of common and southern hairy-nosed wombats in the wild which can easily be located, the northern hairy-nosed wombat is critically endangered.

Night Animal

Majority of the Australians have not seen a wombat in life because these are night animals. They prefer staying in their burrows in the daytime and leave their territory at night in search of food.