The behaviour and social development of young southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)

Abstract

Little is known about the ethology and behavioural ecology of young wombats. Observations of young southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) that were still with their mothers revealed that they have an extensive ethogram that includes autonomous and social play, and precocial aggressive and defensive behaviours. The behaviour of one wombat was observed for 5–7 nights at monthly intervals from when it was first seen above ground with its mother (at an estimated age of 7–9 months). In the first 3 months it played often, and it remained within 25m of the natal burrow. Thereafter, the frequency of play declined, and it followed its mother further from the natal burrow. Five months after it was first seen it became independent of its mother when she moved to another warren. Nearly all the young wombat’s social encounters and interactions were with the group of wombats that occupied two warrens that included the natal burrow. At the time of the study, in 1975, only two of the nine juvenile and subadult wombats that were present at the warrens when the study started were still there 15 months later, which suggests that many young wombats disperse.