Like their nearest relative, the koala, Wombats have bacteria in their gut for the digestion of plant material. Every night, wombats can graze from 3-8 hours and can travel for many kilometres looking for food. The female wombat reaches mating maturity at 2 years, and breeding can occur at any time of the year. The female has a pouch which contains 2 teats. The pouch opens at the back, so that it is kept clean and free of dirt, while she digs and burrows.
Gestation period is approx.
1 month and only 1 young is born at a time. It nestles in the pouch for about 6 months, then stays with the mother for another 10-20 months, when it then becomes independent. Wombats can live for up to 5 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity. Common Wombats are a protected species, as are all Australian native mammals. Many wombats however, are victims of motor vehicle accidents on open roads.