Wombat (Retiring)

The Wombat

Wombats are short-legged, muscular marsupials native to Australia. They are mainly nocturnal, emerging at night to feed on grasses, herbs, bark, and roots.

Wombats walk with a waddle. Although they look pudgy and slow, wombats can run up to 25 miles per hour and maintain that speed for a minute and a half.

Wombats have tough rumps. One of the wombat’s primary defenses is its toughened backside, which is mostly made of cartilage. When threatened, a wombat dives headfirst into a tunnel, blocking the entrance with its rump. This sturdy rump, and lack of a significant tail, make it difficult for a predator to grab on.

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