0 Rex Rabbit

  

The Life of Animals | Rex Rabbit | The Rex Rabbit is a breed of rabbit developed in France in 1919. Their unique, dense, plush, velvet-like fur, was caused by a mutation seen in wild rabbits in France in the late 19th century. After development of the Mini Rex, some people began to refer to the Rex rabbit as the standard Rex rabbit. The official breed name used by ARBA and BSR is the Rex rabbit.

The Rex Rabbit can be housed outdoors year-round in warmer climates as well as in cooler climates if the correct accommodations are made. It can be fed a combination of commercial rabbit pellets and timothy hay. Additionally, the Rex tends to be a hardy breed with few health issues.The Rex is a variety of rabbit recognized by its plush fur that is often described as having a velvety texture. This first appeared in a litter of wild gray rabbits The Rex Rabbit was first shown publicly at the Paris International Rabbit Show in 1924 and has been recognized as a standard breed in parts of Europe since 1925 The Rex was first imported to the United States in 1924 following the Paris International Rabbit Show and has since become one of the most popular domestic rabbit breeds. The rex mutation is also found in cats and rats, but rex cats are usually almost completely bald whereas rex rabbits have a significantly thicker coat

Burke's Backyard notes that rex rabbits are claimed to be one of the most intelligent breeds of rabbits The Rex Rabbit is often used as a foster mother and it is possible, as well, to keep pairs of these rabbits housed together. The Rex is recognized as one of the gentler breeds of rabbits and an excellent choice for families with children, so long as the children are educated on proper handling.The Rex Rabbit can be housed outdoors year-round in warmer climates as well as in cooler climates if the correct accommodations are made. Many outdoor rabbits live in barns or covered hutches in the winter.

 

A second option is to house the Rex Rabbit indoors, which is recommended in some climates. The Rex can be litter box trained and does very well as a house rabbit. The Rex Rabbit can be fed a combination of commercial rabbit pellets and timothy hay Rabbit pellets should not contain seeds or corn and should be high in fiber, low in fat and carbohydrates and moderate in protein.

Detail: Rex Rabbit

0 Netherland Dwarf

 

The Life of Animals | Netherland Dwarf | The Netherland Dwarf is a popular breed of domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) originating in the Netherlands. Smaller than most rabbit breeds, Netherland Dwarf rabbits weigh 500 g to 1.6 kg (1.1 lbs to 3.5 lbs) and are usually kept as pets or exhibition animals. Most rabbits sold in rabbit shows are Netherland Dwarfs, Netherland Dwarf-derived breeds (often referred to simply as dwarf breeds), or Netherland Dwarf crosses. Their popularity as pets stems from their babyish appearance and their smaller cage space requirement compared to larger rabbit breeds. A lot of people also use Netherland Dwarfs for showing.

The Netherland Dwarf breed was first produced in the Netherlands in the early 20th century. Small Polish rabbits were bred with smaller wild rabbits; after several generations the resulting animal was a very small domestic rabbit available in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Netherland Dwarfs were first imported into the United Kingdom in 1948 In the 1960s and 1970s the United States imported its first Netherland Dwarf rabbits The first dwarf rabbits behaved more like these wild rabbits than domestic animals and were not good pets. However, through generations of selective breeding, the modern Netherland Dwarf has become a gentle, friendly pet rabbit, though it still retains a more energetic disposition than larger breeds.Dwarf crosses frequently retain some of these characteristics, depending on the breed the dwarf is crossed with.

 

Purebred Netherland Dwarfs come in a wide variety of colors, including Himalayan, Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Smoke Pearl, Sable Point, Tortoiseshell, Chestnut, Siamese Sable, Opal, Lynx, Squirrel, Chinchilla, Otter, Tan, Silver Marten, Sable Marten, Smoke Pearl Marten, Orange, Fawn, Steel, Broken, Blue-Eyed White and Ruby Eyed White Other colors (including mismarks) exist in non-show-quality Netherland Dwarfs and in dwarf mongrel rabbits.Netherland dwarf rabbits have the same basic behavioral traits as dogs or cats.

Netherland Dwarfs have a reputation of being skittish, wild, and/or of poor temperament. This has changed through selective breeding, making Dwarfs a docile breed. In general, the Netherland Dwarf is curious and gentle. A well-bred Netherland Dwarf makes an excellent pet for both adults and children. Like other domestic rabbits, dwarf rabbits have a sensitive digestive system that is less hardy than their wild rabbit cousins, and leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage can give them health problems, such as diarrhea, if fed in excess. Netherland Dwarfs have a digestive system even more sensitive than most breeds. The best diet consists of fresh, good quality rabbit pellets fed in limited amounts. The National Research Council lists minimum rabbit nutrient requirements for a maintenance diet as 14% crude fiber, 2% fat, and 12% protein. Netherland Dwarfs generally don't require much feed. Rabbit breeds derived from breeding larger rabbits with the Netherland dwarf are known as dwarf breeds. Generally dwarf breeds are slightly larger than the typical Netherland dwarf, not growing larger than 4 to 5 lb (1.8 to 2.3 kg).Most have shortened faces compared to larger rabbits, and some even preserve the rounded head, large eyes, or small ears of the Netherland dwarf.These features make them look little.

Most dwarf breeds are intended to bring a specialized characteristic, such as a specific fur type, into a smaller rabbit. Mini-Rex were created through the breeding of dwarfs with Rex rabbits, a fur breed with a short, plush coat, and retain both the dwarf's size and the Rex fur. Jersey Woolies are a dwarf version of the Angora rabbit, a wool-producing breed. Lop-eared rabbit breeds, interbred with dwarfs, were used to create Holland Lop. Despite its name, the Mini Lop is not a dwarf breed. If two true dwarfs are bred, the statistical result will be 25% fatal 25% false, and 50% true. "False Dwarfs" tend to have longer bodies, longer/larger ears, longer faces, and are often heavier than the 2.5 pound maximum weight for showing. It is common practice amongst Netherland Dwarf breeders to breed a proven show quality true dwarf buck to a quality false dwarf doe. This eliminates the chance of peanuts and yields quality offspring. The chances of false dwarfs is higher, but those offspring generally go toward breeding (some false dwarf bucks have proven themselves valuable to a breeding program) or are sold as pets.

Detail: Netherland Dwarf

0 Holland Lop

  
The Life of Animals | Holland Lop | Holland lops are a breed of rabbit originating in the Netherlands. The breed was recognized by the Netherlands' Governing Rabbit Council in 1964 and the American Rabbit Breeders' Association in 1979. This breed marked its beginning when Dutch rabbit breeder Adrian de Cock sought to combine the best qualities from two distinctively different rabbit breeds, the French Lop and the Netherland Dwarf, into a new breed.

In the winter, de Cock bred a white Netherland Dwarf doe to a French Lop buck, but obtained an undesirable litter. Unsatisfied, he decided to switch the sexes in the breeds, breeding a French Lop doe and a Netherland Dwarf buck. Subsequently, in 1952, de Cock took a doe from the litter of six to breed with an English Lop buck. Producing five young of mixed ear carriage between lopped, erect and half-lopped.
 

 

It ties as the smallest breed of the lop-eared rabbits with the American Fuzzy Lop with an ideal weight of 3.0 - 4.0 lbs (1.6 kg) for showing in American Rabbit Breeders' Association sanctioned shows. The most common colors attributed to Holland Lops are tortoise shell, broken tortoise shell, broken black and black, black, broken orange, as well as blue eyed white and ruby eyed white. The Holland Lop shares a color guide in the ARBA Standards consisting of well over twenty colors with the fuzzy lop. Holland Lops are popular among new rabbit owners for their "loppish" ears and round faces. Holland Lops have a gentle nature. These rabbits make great pets.

Detail: Holland Lop

0 Flemish Giant

The Life of Animals | Flemish Giant | The Flemish Giant is a old breed of domesticated rabbits, originating from the Flemish region. This 'Patagonian' rabbit was a large land race breed that was once bred in Belgium and France. Thomas Coat oam in his "Origins of the Flemish Giants" tells us "The earliest authentic record of the Flemish Giant Rabbit occurred about the year 1860. Weights of certain specimen were stated to be 18 to 20 pounds. However, a close investigation of the matter of weights proved that 12to 14 pounds were the average weight of giant rabbits raised in the above mentioned country.

English breeders of meat stock produced their product from stock weighing an average of 7 to 8 pounds at maturity, so it was but a short time later that the first importation of Flemish breeding rabbits took place. The Flemish Giant is an ancestor of many rabbit breeds all over the world. The Flemish Giant was imported from England and Belgium to America in the early 1890s to help improve the size of meat rabbits during the great "rabbit boom It received little attention until about 1910 where it started appearing at small livestock shows throughout the country. Today, it is one of the more popular breeds at rabbit shows because of its unusually large size and its varying colors. It is promoted by the National Federation of Flemish Giant Rabbit Breeders which was formed in 1915. The Flemish Giant has many nicknames, first and foremost the "Gentle Giant" for it's uniquely docile personality and also the "universal rabbit" for it's multi purposes of pet, show, breeding, and meat 

   

As one of the largest breeds of domestic rabbit, the Flemish Giant is a semi-arch type rabbit with its back arch starting back of the shoulders and carrying through to the base of the tail giving a "mandolin" shape. The body of a Flemish Giant Rabbit is long and powerful with relatively broad hindquarters. The minimum show weight for a Senior (older than 8 months) doe is 14 lbs (about 6.4 kg), and the minimum weight of a Senior buck is 13 lbs (about 5.9 kg) (ARBA Standards of Perfection). The largest of rabbits weigh as much as 50 pounds, although these species technically constitute Continental and German Giants. 

Flemish Giants, like all rabbits, can become fearful, and sometimes violent, if handled incorrectly or irresponsibly. Their larger frame requires special attention paid to the spine alignment when handling a Flemish Giant, or any rabbit for that matter. The well-being of a Flemish Giant, like all rabbits, is dependent upon the care of a responsible owner. Consequently, rabbits may not be an ideal pet for younger or immature caregivers.Due to its large size, the Flemish Giant needs substantial living quarters that provide ample opportunity for physical movement. The House Rabbit Society recommends keeping rabbits inside the home in a very large pen or room(s) in the home. Larger dog crates are often more appropriate than traditional rabbit and small-pet cages, which tend to be smaller and shorter. In the United States Department of Agriculture's standards for animal housing, rabbits over 12 pounds must have at least 5 square feet of floor space.The size of appropriate living quarters increases with size of the rabbit. Cages with incorrectly sized wire gauge bottoms (as opposed to small gauge wire or solid bottoms) can harm the feet of a Flemish Giant more so than smaller house rabbits due to their increased weight. A resting board may be required to prevent sore hocks for a larger breed rabbit.

The Flemish Giant will require larger quantities of food compared to smaller breeds of domestic rabbits. Like some other short hair breeds of rabbits, the Flemish Giant will usually require mild attention to grooming due to its shorter hair. A variety of foods is available for rabbits, including commercial pellets, home-mixed grains, grass and legume hays, fresh forages, and vegetables. Flemish Giants can be fed as other rabbits, so long as the amount is increased to match the larger size of the animal. Some treats recommended by the House Rabbit Society include: a slice of strawberry, banana, apple, green pepper, carrot, or a finger dipped in organic yogurt.The American Rabbit Breeders' Association (ARBA) recommends delaying breeding of female rabbits until they reach the senior weight range. For Flemish Giants, this is 14 pounds, and a typical rabbit will reach this weight when they are about 9 months to one year The breeding lifespan of a rabbit is variable. The Flemish Giant rabbit can produce large litters, usually between 5 to 12 in a litter.

Detail: Flemish Giant

0 Himalayan Rabbit

 

The Life of Animals | Himalayan Rabbit | The ideal age for the female Himalayan rabbit to start breeding is between 5 to 6 months of age.  The Himalayan rabbit is a small, slender rabbit. The average weight of the Himalayan rabbit is 2kgs. The mainstay of a rabbit’s diet should be large unlimited amounts of fresh hay, fresh fruit and vegetables, a well-balanced dry rabbit mix and plenty of clean water. A water bottle fixed to the outside of the cage, with the water tube going into the cage, ensures a fresh water supply is available.

For an outdoor rabbit the ideal home is a wooden hutch made of a heavy wood with a waterproof roof, and raised off the ground. If the rabbit is going to live indoors then a wooden hutch can also be used or a cage.  Bedding material should be provided especially in cold and wet weather for the outdoor rabbit.  The rabbit home should be cleaned out weekly and any old food removed. If it is necessary to wash the home then only use a cleaner specifically designed for cleaning rabbit hutches. An earthenware food bowl and a drinking bottle will also be required to feed and water the rabbit.

Suitability For Children  The Himalayan rabbit is suitable for both children and adults. They are best suited for children over 10 years of age, for younger children an adult should supervise the care and handling of the rabbit. The Character & Temperament  The Himalayan rabbit is a good-natured rabbit, they are quite docile and not inclined to bite or scratch.

Sleeping Habits Rabbits are most active in the morning and at night; they generally sleep during the day. Toys & Exercise  Rabbits need things to climb on, crawl through, dig and chew. Several boxes can be put together with holes in them so the rabbit can go from box to box, just like being in a warren.

Detail: Himalayan Rabbit

0 English Spot

  

The Life of Animals | English Spot | The English Spot is a breed of domestic rabbit that was developed in England in the 19th century through selective breeding. Averaging 5 to 8 pounds in weight, the English Spot is a medium-sized breed that is most noted by the distinctive colored markings on its body, including the butterfly, eye circles, English Spots have a full arch body, with long front legs that carry them off the table. English Spots are most known for their curious and fun loving nature.

The English Spot is believed to be one of the oldest breeds of fancy rabbit. The Checkered Giant is a larger breed, weighing on average 10-14 pounds. The American English Spot Rabbit Club was established in 1924. The French named the breed "Lapin Papillon Angalias", or the English Butterfly Rabbit from the butterfly marking on the nose Previous generations of the breed entailed a white rabbit with patches of color and through the years has acquired clearly defined markings

 

The English Spot is a medium sized breed, averaging 5-8 pounds.An English Spot is known by its six types of body markings: butterfly, cheek spots, eye circles, colored ears, herringbone, and chain of spots. The butterfly is a butterfly marking around the nose; if looking straight at the rabbit's nose, the butterfly will peak in the middle and have a wing on both sides. The cheek spots are a colored dots below the eye on both sides of the rabbit. Eye circles are solid colored circles around both eyes of the rabbit. The most known feature of the English Spot is the chain of individual spots that sweeps both sides of the rabbit's body, running from the base of the neck to the hind legs.

The English Spot is an active rabbit needing an hour or two to run around each day. Due to its arched body type, the English Spot is judged while it runs the length of a table, which allows the animals body type to be fully assessed. This type of hay should be reserved for young kits or lactating does. Some of the vegetables that rabbits enjoy are parsley, thyme, cilantro, dandelion, and basil The English Spot doe, female, will foster young easily, often raising her young with the litter of other breeds A normal litter is on average, 5-7 young with a gestation period of 30–32 days Of a normal litter, 25% will be a solid color, 25% will have partial markings, and 50% will have all the required markings The partially marked babies "typically have a mustache similar to Charlie Chaplin" and therefore are called 'charlies' A pregnant English Spot will require adequate food to support her and her young.

Detail: English Spot

0 Dutch Rabbit

 

  

The Life of Animals | Dutch Rabbit | The Dutch rabbit, easily identifiable by its characteristic colour pattern, was once the most popular of all rabbit breeds. However, after dwarf rabbits were developed, the popularity of the Dutch rabbit dwindled. Nevertheless, the Dutch rabbit remains one of the top ten most popular breeds worldwide. The Dutch rabbit has its genetic roots in this old breed. The American Rabbit Breeders Association standard calls for a small to medium rabbit.

Dutch are a 4-class breed. Dutch are to have a compact, well-rounded body; rounded head; short, stocky, well-furred ears; and short, glossy "flyback" fur. Black, a dense, glossy black Blue, a medium blue-gray Chocolate, a rich chocolate brown Steel, (UK: Steel Grey) a black color with off-white tips to the hairshaft New varieties under development in the United States include Harlequin (UK: Tri Coloured Dutch) (a pattern of black and orange patches) and Chinchilla. The blaze is an even wedge of white running up the rabbit's face. It is shaped by the cheeks which are the rounded circles of color on either side of the face.

The neck marking is a white wedge on the back of the head. The saddle is to be a straight line running behind the shoulders and continuing underneath the rabbit to the undercut across the belly. The stops are located on the rear feet, which should be white from the toes to a point one third the length of the foot. The American standard allots 50 of the 100 total points to markings, 25 points to general type, 10 points to color, 10 points to fur and 5 to condition. Eyes bold and bright, fairly large.) Blaze wedged shaped, carrying up to a point between ears. Clean Neck means free from coloured fur immediately behind the ears. (10 points) Saddle is the junction between the white and coloured fur on the back. (10 points) Undercut continuation of the saddle. (10 points) Colour see below for colours. (10 points) Shape (type) and Condition compact, cobby, rounded. Classes for young Dutch rabbits are recommended by the UKDRC as being for Dutch rabbits under five months of age.

Wrong coloured eyes (see Colour Standard). Discoloured or wall eyes (pale blue iris), specked eyes (pale blue spots or specks on the iris). Coloured fur on the White part or white patches on the coloured parts. Flesh markings (usually on ears). Trimming (attempts to straighten out irregularities, dyeing white spots on coloured fur etc.). Black - Deep, solid and carrying well down to the skin, with blue under colour, the deeper the better. Free from white hairs and mealiness or flecking. Eyes dark hazel.

Blue - Deep, solid , slate blue, colour to carry well down to the skin. Blue under colour, the deeper the better. Free from white hairs and flecked or mealy coat. Eyes dark blue.Steel Grey - Dark steel grey merging to pale slate blue in the undercolour. The whole interspersed with black guard hairs. The mixture to carry well down the sides, flanks and hind feet. Belly colour will be a lighter shade varying with the top colour. Upper part of the tail to match the body colour; underside to tone with the belly colour. Ears to match body, Eyes deep hazel.

Brown Grey - Slate blue at the base followed by a band of yellowy orange then a black line, finishing by light or nut brown tips to the fur. The general impression should be light or nut brown on ears, cheeks, body, hind feet and top of tail, the whole ticked with black hairs. Belly colour and eye circles (small as possible) bright straw colour. Eyes hazel, deeper the better.Pale Grey - Top colour biscuit carrying well down and merging in to pale slate at the base, the whole interspersed with black ticking. The general impression should be biscuit tipped with black on ears, cheeks, body and top of tail. Belly colour white with pale slate undercolour. Body colour should be present on hind feet. Underside of tail white. Eyes hazel. Tortoiseshell - An even shade of orange top colour to carry well down and shading off to a lighter colour to the skin. Ears, belly and under the tail blue-black. Cheeks and hind quarters (flanks) shaded or toned with blue black. Eyes hazel, the deeper the better.Chocolate - Deep solid dark chocolate, colour carrying well down to the skin. Free from white hairs and mealiness. Yellow - An even shade of yellow throughout. Eyes hazel.In flecked or mealy exhibits the individual fur would be black, then dark grey, then a deeper shade before merging into blue at the base.

Detail: Dutch Rabbit

0 American Chinchilla

  

The Life of Animals | American Chinchilla | The American Chinchilla or "Heavyweight Chinchilla" is larger than the Standard Chinchilla but otherwise identical. Standard Chinchillas bred for large size produced this breed. Chinchilla Rabbits originated in France and were bred to standard by M. J. Dybowski.

American Chinchilla Rabbits do not require regular grooming. Adult American Chinchilla Rabbits weigh different for each sex. Males (Bucks)- 9-11#, and Females (Does) 10-12#. American Chinchilla Rabbits are a six-class breed in show. (Any rabbit that matures over 9 pounds is a 6-class breed, maturation weights under 9# are 4-class breeds.) The American Chinchilla Rabbit was bred from large Standard Chinchilla Rabbits in order to produce a meatier rabbit. They were originally called Heavyweight Chinchilla Rabbits.

American Chinchilla Rabbits will be disqualified in show for having a body type that resembles a Flemish Giant Rabbit. Intermediate American Chinchilla Rabbits are bucks and does six to eight months of age. Doe American Chinchilla Rabbits weigh between ten and 12 pounds. Other chinchillas include the Standard and the American Chinchillas.

Detail: American Chinchilla

0 Lionhead Rabbit

  

The Life of Animals | Lionhead Rabbit | Lionhead rabbit is one of the newest breeds of domestic rabbits in the United States, and is currently undergoing the American Rabbit Breeders' Association evaluation process. The Lionhead rabbit has particularly long wool surrounding the face, reminiscent of the mane of a male lion, hence the name.

The Lionhead rabbit originated in Belgium. It is reported to have been produced by breeders trying to breed a long coated dwarf rabbit by crossing a miniature Swiss Fox and a Belgian dwarf. Lionheads may have longer fur around their back legs. Some Lionheads have noticeably longer wool on the cheeks and chest. The breed has been recognized since 2002 by the United Kingdom's British Rabbit Council. The current breed presenter is Theresa Mueller of Seattle, WA. Theresa must make two more successful presentations in order for the breed to attain recognized breed status within the ARBA. Arden Wetzel (MN) was the first Lionhead COD holder, but ultimately failed his presentation. Second COD holder Gail Gibbons (KS) also failed to successfully present the breed to ARBA. Bob Whitman (TX) and Kim Croak (PA), both recently deceased, also held Lionhead breed CODs.

The North American Lionhead Rabbit Club (NALRC) holds its annual Lionhead Exhibition Specialty show in Columbus, OH on the first Saturday in May of each year. Depending on the set of genes a Lionhead gets, it can have a double mane (2 mane genes), a single mane (1 mane gene), or no mane.

Single maned lionhead rabbits have a mane that is around its head, ears, chin and sometimes on the chest. The genotype for the single mane is Mm. Typically their mane wool diminishes as they get older. The genotype for a double mane is MM.As the name implies, no mane.  They look like an ordinary rabbit or similar to a larger Netherland Dwarf rabbit.

Detail: Lionhead Rabbit

0 Wombat

 

The Life of Animals | Wombat | Wombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately 1 metre (39 in) in length with a short, stubby tail. The name wombat comes from the aborigines that originally inhabited the Sydney area. Wombats were often called badgers by early settlers because of their size and habit. Because of this, localities such as Badger Creek, Victoria and Badger Corner, Tasmania were named after the wombat. Wombats are Australian marsupials are short-legged, four-legged and has a length of approximately 1 meter with a very short tail. Wombats dig burrows with front teeth like a rodent and strong claws. Although wombats hunt in the daytime and at night, wombats will also go to eat on a cold day.

 

Wombats dig extensive burrow systems with rodent-like front teeth and powerful claws. One distinctive adaptation of wombats is their backwards pouch. Although mainly crepuscular and nocturnal, wombats also venture out to feed on cool or overcast days. Wombats are herbivores their diet consists mostly of grasses, sedges, herbs, bark and roots. Female wombats give birth to a single young in the spring, after a gestation period, which like all marsupials can vary, in the case of the wombat: 20–21 days. Wombats are weaned after 15 months, and are sexually mature at 18 months.

Wombats defend home territories centred on their burrows, and they react aggressively to intruders. The common wombat occupies a range of up to 23 ha (57 acres), while the hairy-nosed species have much smaller ranges, of no more than 4 ha (9.9 acres). Dingos and Tasmanian Devils prey on wombats. When attacked, wombats dive into a nearby tunnel, using their rump to block a pursuing attacker. Humans can receive puncture wounds from wombat claws as well as bites. 

Human impact on the wombat population is now at a critical level. Wombats suffer from a disease called sarcoptic mite or mange that was introduced to Australia and to wombats by human activity. This leads to a long, slow and painful death for wombats. Diseases and viruses brought in by farming activity now affect wombats. Incidents of Coccidia, Clostridium perfringens and tetanus amongst others, are evident in wombats. Behavioural studies on wombats are few and limited in their scope. As a result, wombats are misunderstood and those attempting to rear and rehabilitate injured and orphaned wombats have difficulty getting them appropriate medical attention and in helping others understand the best ways of living with wombats.

Habitat destruction is having a major impact on wombat numbers as well. Although Australia is a big country there are few areas where wombats can live undisturbed. Many parks, zoos and other tourist set-ups across Australia have wombats on public display, and they are quite popular. Wombats are wide-ranging foragers and nocturnal with strong instincts for burrowing. Unlike most other Australian marsupials, the wombat has a relatively large brain. This, combined with strong instincts upon maturity, allows a captive hand-raised wombat to be easily released into the wild.The common wombat is thought to be a descendant of the giant wombat that existed around 50 million years ago. 

The common wombat is a nocturnal herbivore and gets to about 26 years old in the wild although some wombat individuals have been known to live for longer in captivity. Wombats eats grasses, shoots and bark which the wombat needs to keep gnawing on in order to keep it's continuously growing teeth at a manageable size. Like all other marsupials, the female wombat has a warm pouch on it's belly in which the wombat babies are nurtured for the first few months of life. When the baby wombats are first born they are very small and undeveloped and crawl into the mother wombat's pouch almost immediately.

The baby wombat stays in the pouch of the mother wombat until the baby wombat is around 5 months old Wombats have long claws which they use to dig burrows. Wombat burrows can easily become an extensive network of underground tunnels leading to small chambers. Most wombats are solitary animals but some wombats have been known to form underground colonies with other wombats. Wombats have a few natural predators including foxes and dingos. Although the wombat is relatively defenceless when it is out and about, wombats are generally well protected in their underground burrows as many predators cannot follow the wombat into the narrow, complex tunnels. Today the wombat is considered to be an endangered species of animal. Wombat numbers have been decreasing rapidly due to habitat loss and hunting by humans who believe the wombat and it's network of underground tunnels to be an agricultural pest.

Detail: Wombat