Russell the Wombat was a feisty favourite with visitors and staff at the Zoo. Photo: Wagga City Council.
Tragic news today from the team at the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens Zoo and Aviary, announcing the death of Russell the Wombat.
After a long illness, the beloved little marsupial passed away in the care of staff.
Curator Wendy McNamara said it’s been a tough time.
“We got to the stage where we were nursing him intensively, syringe feeding him, and doing absolutely everything we could to give him the care he needed,” she said.
“We loved the little guy and it was heartbreaking to see him unwell.”
Visitors to the zoo loved a cuddle with Russell, seen here with comedian Dane Simpson. Photo: Dane Simpson.
Russell arrived at the zoo in November of 2020 as a 10-month-old joey after being rescued from his mother’s pouch on the side of the road near Gundagai.
Most hand-reared wombats don’t survive, but his rescuer Nicky Porter took good care of him and reached out to the zoo when he began to grow.
Because of his close association with humans, Russell was comfortable being held and patted, and quickly became a star at his new home in Wagga.
He was often seen waddling around the zoo on a lead with one of his keepers.
“Russell has brought so much joy and happiness to the local community since he arrived at the zoo,” Ms McNamara said.
“We set up a brand new enclosure for him and he loved spending time with all the kids who came to visit, going for walks around the zoo to say hello, and giving everyone lots of snuggle time.”
Russell began losing weight earlier in the year, prompting the zoo to consult local veterinarians and wildlife experts to find an explanation.
A team from across the state was soon working to diagnose the almost-three-year-old wombat’s condition.
Despite blood tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, dental exams and medications, veterinary and wildlife experts were unable to identify a cause, but they confirmed that he had not contracted anything contagious at the zoo.
After being hospitalised, Russell passed away.
The cause of death remains unknown, despite an autopsy.
Ms McNamara said even with all that he endured throughout his illness, Russell never lost his love of people and zest for adventure.
“He was such a special part of our zoo family and we’re devastated to be without him,” she said.
“We’d like to thank everyone who did their utmost to help Russell over the last few months, and thank our community for letting this little furry wombat into their hearts. It’s special to know that he was so loved.”
Russell’s empty enclosure is a sad reminder of the furry little fella. The zoo team has encouraged the community to get in touch if they know of any wombats who need a good home.
Loading ...
