Bare-nosed Wombat – NOT Common!

Bare-nosed wombats
NOT Common wombats!

Bare-nosed Wombats- Not Common!

(Photo with thanks to Mary Wombat Spry)

Various members of the Wombat Promotion, Protection and Rescue community are asking for assistance to get the name usage changed from “Common Wombats” to “Bare-nosed Wombats”.

We have 2 ways for you to help with this:

1. Click here to sign a petition to help speed up the change.

2. Email the text below to these organisations, asking them to make the change:
– We might add more as we find them.

  • Copy the prepared email text,
  • Then click each contact link in the numbered section to start an email.
  • Paste your copied text in and personalise it (politely, please).
  • Send the email to help the cause.
  • Repeat for each contact email.

 

  1. National Geographic – GivingInfo@ngs.org
  2. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – marketing@koala.net and education@koala.net
  3. Australian Geographic – society@ausgeo.com.au
  4. NPWS -NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
    – parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au and info@environment.nsw.gov.au

 

Text to copy for your emails

Dear (Organisation Name)

I write to you today regarding the Bare-nosed Wombat, with a request for your organisation to please stop using the name “Common Wombat”.

Today our precious Australian wildlife are facing so many threats – climate change, habitat loss, urban development, road-kill and injury, predator attack and disease and illness – with Sarcoptic Mange being a huge threat to wombats. I think it’s safe to say that none of our native wildlife – including wombats – can be considered “common” any more.

Some years ago, a group of wombat enthusiasts (many from the Wombat Protection Society of Australia) came together for a Fauna First Aid wombat rehabilitation course in southern NSW. After an in-depth discussion, the group decided to move away from the name “Common Wombat” and adopt the newer, better name of Bare-nosed Wombat, which fits in nicely with the hairy-nosed species. This is something we have all been striving for since and I am so pleased to say that many organisations have come on board, including the CSIRO.

The name “common” gives the general public the incorrect idea that the species is common and not in need of protection – it isn’t and it does!

Some other organisations that have embraced the name change include; the Australian Museum, the Australian Wildlife Society, WomSAT, Wildlife Sydney, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Bush Heritage Australia, Australian Nature Hub, WIRES, Mange Management, Ballarat Wildlife Park, The Wombat Foundation, The Wombat Protection Society of Australia, The University of Adelaide, The University of Tasmania , Wombats SA and many more.

The common name of Australian species is not set in stone like scientific names are. All it takes is a simple change in the common name, by organisations such as yours, to help raise awareness of our very special native animals.

Please join with us and embrace the new name of Bare-nosed Wombat. You will help the cause to protect and preserve wombats ten-fold.

Many thanks for taking the time to read my email. I hope to hear from you soon.

(Add your name/email signature information here)

 

Thanks for helping with the Bare-nosed wombat name change!