A recent video has sparked outrage among wildlife experts after an American influencer picked up a baby wombat from its mother. The incident highlights the dangers of interfering with wildlife, even if it seems harmless.
Wombats are short, squat marsupials native to Australia, and while they may appear cute and cuddly, they are wild animals that have developed ways to defend themselves against predators. A wombat’s sharp, rodent-like incisor teeth can be painful and lead to infection, and their lengthy claws make them a formidable opponent.
Experts warn that even brief encounters with humans can have negative impacts on an animal’s wellbeing. Swinging a baby wombat in the air risks damage to its spine, while taking it from its mother or vice versa can cause permanent separation. Wombats are terrestrial animals that are not meant to be handled, and intelligent mammals like them can suffer long-term impacts from traumatic events.
“Australia has incredible wildlife – I think it’s the most wonderful in the world,” says Jack Ashby, a zoologist and author of Platypus Matters: The Extraordinary Story of Australian Mammals. “But this is not the way to interact with that wildlife.” Joanna Bagniewska, a behavioral ecologist at Oxford University, agrees that wombats are powerful animals that should be treated with respect.
The incident has sparked an outcry from experts and raises awareness about the importance of leaving wild animals undisturbed and admiring them from afar. As Bagniewska says, “I understand the excitement of encountering a baby wombat, but at the end of the day, it’s best to leave the animal undisturbed.”
Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/wombats-dangerous-wildlife