04 Jan Chilli’s Story
Chilli was reported by a member of the public on 23 February 2022. She was found under a veranda having been attacked by another wombat. This happens often when wombat burrows are flooded after heavy rains and the wombats are forced to leave their flooded burrow. There is increased competition for dry burrows and the smaller wombats suffer severe wounds and are left homeless as a result.
Chilli’s wounds were badly infected and she was very thin. In care at Major’s Creek Wombat Refuge her wounds were treated and antibiotics were administered by a vet over the next few months until her wounds healed. She will be held in care for about a year until she grows to full adult size, and then released.
Majors Creek Refuge has rescued and rehabilitated many wombats with a similar story to Chilli in the past year. Les and Bill Waterhouse have also rescued and cared for many orphaned wombat joeys that may have been orphaned indirectly as a result of flooding.