True, the exhibits for both species of Wombat at Australia Zoo are truly massive. Almost too massive if you ask me. I like Wombats so I want to see them, and they are shy animals, but those in Australian zoos have often been raised by people after the mothers were run over. So they are all but shy and I have some very good photos of Wombats from my stay.
Its actually, in my extensive wombat experience, it's one of the worst!
They are not allowed to dig. An essentail Wombat activity.
They are forced to sleep in Glass fronted burrows, so no privacy, with no nesting material other than some (very sparse) leaf litter on the ground.
The Wombats are kepts in way to big of a social group, so a generally solitary or very small family group animal.
Australia Zoo staff are in the enclosure at all times to stop the wombats from digging or even walking in the same track(something wombats do in the wild) to avoid damaging the "Golf Course" Lawn.
I have seen some great wombat exhibit's especially in the smaller wildlife parks, the best facility was a private wombat centre (Manfred Hiede, Wombat Expert and close friend). Also one smaller park simply put their Wombat in a square yard, and allowed him to landscape or moonscape) it himself, a great design technique I believe
Mock rock, and lush non native grasses don't make a good wombat exhibit, maybe a good area for a nice wombat show, but not a wombat enclosure.
Australia Zoo staff are in the enclosure at all times to stop the wombats from digging or even walking in the same track(something wombats do in the wild) to avoid damaging the "Golf Course" Lawn.
