Another danger is the possibility of inbreeding, leading to fewer, less vigorous young. It is difficult to assess whether this is occurring at Epping Forest, because so little is known about the species' normal reproduction. The hair samples are analysed in Bill Sherwin's laboratory at the University of NSW, and the animal's feeding ecology is being studied by PhD student Andrew Woolnough at James Cook University. It is thought that the New Zealand populations may contain unique genetic diversity which has been lost from Australia through population extinction. It is possible that their genes could be reintroduced to boost the inevitably declining diversity of local populations.
Feral cats represent one of many threats to the survival of the northern hairy-nosed wombat.
This one is held by Alan Horsup from Queensland's Department of Environment, leader of the northern hairy-nosed wombat 'recovery team'. Behind him is a wombat trap, part of a traditional system used to study the wombat colony at Epping Forest National Park. For the wombats of Epping Forest, however, genetic variability can only be regained through the long-term process of random mutation. Careful management may overcome some of the problems associated with inbreeding and genetic drift, but the wombat's ability to survive a habitat shift is poor. Climate change may be the pressure that drives the northern hairy-nosed wombat, and other vertebrate species, to extinction.