A walk by Coombs Pond in Australia turned into a dramatic rescue when a passerby noticed something unusual floating in the murky water: a strange brown lump, drifting helplessly.
Curious and concerned, the woman got a closer look — and was shocked to discover a wombat struggling in the pond. Wombats aren’t fans of water, and while they can swim, they usually only do so for short bursts. This little one was clearly in trouble.
She called for her mom, who arrived with a kayak. Carefully, they used the paddle to guide the exhausted wombat back to shore, saving him from what could have been a deadly ordeal.
Once safely on land, they contacted Wombat Rescue for professional help.
“A very unusual rescue happened today,” Yolandi Vermaak, founder of Wombat Rescue, shared on Facebook. “If not for the intervention of the public, this wombat would have drowned.”
Volunteers found the waterlogged wombat lying under a bush, covered in grass and twigs. They gently placed him in a crate and transported him to the rescue for examination.
The first days were tough. The wombat was tired, ill, and didn’t eat or drink, which was expected after such an ordeal. But soon, he was moved to a larger enclosure with room to walk a little and plenty of enrichment, including a hanging tire — one of his favorite toys.
“His first few days were hard, but he adapted really well,” Vermaak said. “He has mental stimulation, things to play with, and is slowly regaining his strength.”
Though he’s not fully out of danger yet, rescuers are optimistic that he’ll eventually return to the wild near where he was found.
“His prospects are looking good,” Vermaak said. “Once we are fully satisfied that he is in the clear, we will release him near his original home.”
To help wombats like him, consider making a donation to Wombat Rescue, and follow their incredible work on Instagram and YouTube.
