Battling Mange: Conservationist's Fight to Save Wombats

Conservationist Melina Budden and her team from the Blue Mountains Wombat Conservation Group are combating wombat mange in southeastern Australia. With climate change exacerbating the situation, Budden emphasizes the need for more research and funding to ensure the survival of this unique marsupial.

Conservationist Melina Budden, armed with medication to treat mange, quietly trails a wombat named Hope who is afflicted by the skin disease in southeastern Australia's forests.

Budden, founder of the Blue Mountains Wombat Conservation Group, leads dozens of volunteers dedicated to safeguarding the native marsupial. Mange, caused by parasitic mites, is a significant threat to wombats, accounting for high mortality rates, especially as climate change introduces new hazards. 'It's a very slow and painful death, wiping them out 100% if untreated,' Budden explained. The disease affects many of Australia's native mammals and can also be a biosecurity issue for livestock and immunocompromised humans.

The dependence on community-led efforts and lack of sustainable solutions underline the urgent need for more research and financial support, Budden noted. She highlighted that climate change, through floods, droughts, and bushfires, weakens the animals' resilience, making them more susceptible to diseases like mange.

Handling the treatment of up to 200 wombats weekly is laborious, often requiring annual re-treatment. Hope is now in her third year of treatment. 'I feel like we're on a merry-go-round, but we can't stop,' Budden stated. 'You can't let something die a slow, painful death and do nothing.'

(With inputs from agencies.)