Wombat Sponsorship
The Wombat Awareness Organisation (WAO) has rehabilitated over 260 wombats over the past 17 months of operation. Some wombats sustain severe injuries or due to legislation can not be released.
WAO embraces the opportunity to offer a lifeline to these wombats and give them the chance to live in an open environment and express natural behaviours. We are the only organisation that allows wombats to live in a community with others, as they would in the wild and are having extraordinary results in revolutionising captive wombat care.
WAO relies on help to maintain this service to all wombats in need and has developed a ‘Wombat Sponsorship Program’ for only $5.00 a week. Your financial help goes directly to feeding, housing and veterinary treatment for the wombat you choose to sponsor!
The sponsor will receive a sponsorship certificate, monthly updates on their wombat and an invitation to visit the WAO ICU.
Bean Bag Age: Approx 12 Months 
This sweet little man was rescued from Portee with mange and abscesses on his back and shoulders. After a five day course of antibiotics hard substances were felt under his skin. Thinking it may just be other wombats teeth Bean Bag was taken to the vet for further investigations. To our surprise and disgust five 22 caliber bullets were found in his spine and shoulders. This poor little man was a victim of a sick form of entertainment of shooting wombats for fun. Bean Bag has a long recovery road ahead and we need your help to rehabilitate him and save others just like him!
Barney Age: 4 years - Nickname: Shishoshi
Barney was born in a small wildlife park and due to illness, was rejected by his mother. WAO was founded after the director became surrogate mother to Barney and realised that there was so much more to wombats than fat blobs lying in a log in a zoo. Barney’s illnesses led the founders to relocate to SA to provide him with the correct environment, Wombat country. Hundreds of lives of other wombats have been saved thanks to Barney who is now our largest wombat at 32kg and has maintained his health for nearly two years.
Gizmo Age: 16 - Nickname: Yogi ya
Gizmo was rescued from an indigenous community in SA. He was then sold on to a zoological institution in QLD and housed in 30sqm for 13 years. Due to Gizmo’s traumatic life and inability to express his feelings, he developed aggressive stereotypic behaviours. Gizmo lost his home and was going to be euthanased before Bob Irwin stepped in. Gizmo now spends his days at WAO’s rehabilitation centre and walks over 500 acres every day.
Bug Age: 19 months
Nickname: Puddin’
Bug was rescued from an indigenous community as a little pinkie after his mother was hunted. Bug is big and boofy, and not very bright but loves his cuddles and going for walks. His best friends are Harley and Gummy Bear
 Ving Age: 18 months
Nickname: Short, Fat, Flat & Hairy
Ving was rescued after her mum was hit by a car. We tried to save the mother as she ran down the burrow after being hit by the car, but could not get her out. Ving was hand-raised and so could not be released as DEH legislation states that any hand raised wombats cannot be released, this is due to the drought, Sarcoptic mange and lack of understanding of the social structure. All research in this area has proved unsuccessful.
 Old Boot Age: Older than the hills - Nickname: Old Cow Hand
The Old Boot came into care extremely emaciated at a tiny 6kg (approx. 20 kg’s underweight). She was suffering from the severity of the drought. After vet examination by a specialist dental vet, it was discovered that the Old Boot had severe teeth wear and is predicted to be as old as the hills. The Old Boot now happily has 2 bottles a day of puree vegetables and sleeps on a feather doona!
 Ruby Age: Adult - Nickname: Roo
Ruby is a Bare-Nosed (or Common) Wombat from Mount Gambier (6 hours drive away) that alluded WAO rescuers for nearly 3 months. Finally, Ruby was rescued with advanced Sarcoptic Mange and pneumonia. Ruby recovered very quickly with intensive care and although the effects from the mange have left permanent damage to her fur and eye sight, Ruby is really active, finds her way around our massive enclosure and sleeps on a fluffy bed inside!
Muppet Age: 2 1/2 years - Nickname: Quickly
Muppet was hit by a car in the Murraylands and required long term care at the Wombat Intensive Care Unit. She is a bed hopper by nature and has a fetish for port-a-cots. Muppet, also known as ‘Quickly’ has only two speeds; fast and stop.
Snapping Turtle Age: 18 months
Nickname: Turty
Snapping Turtle was rescued after being hand-raised by an inexperienced carer after his mother was hunted by aboriginals. The incorrect diet that ST was raised on resulted in malnutrition and rickets. He was also extremely underweight upon coming into care at WAO, being approx. 20kg’s underweight for his age. ST has almost doubled his weight in just a few short months and loves being a wombat! He spends hours digging and playing in dirt and eating yummy grass!
Harley Age: 15 months - Nickname: Pooh
Harley was hand raised by a carer after his mother was hit by a car. Harley was trapped in his mothers pouch for a few days before being rescued, so has some issues with being confined in a small space. Harley was given to WAO by DEH to utilise for education, after being unable to house him. Harley now enjoys socialising with the other wombats and the freedom WAO provides him with. His best friend is Bug.
 Gummy Bear
Age: Sub-adult Nickname:
Gum was rescued after being hit by a car and left to die. Gummy walked down onto a ferry at Purnong and was placed into a box by the ferry operator. Gummy suffered serious facial injuries, with all 4 incisors broken and also a broken bottom jaw. After 2 lots of surgery he is now starting to enjoy life at the WAO ICU spending hours exploring every night and just loves his bottles of puree vegetables and milk….yum!
To sponsor one of these gorgeous wombats Click Here!
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