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A couple of lucky wombats in Central NSW, Australia, hit a jackpot when they burrowed to an underground well. In the drought-stricken valley, it hasn't rained for almost three years. While Australian animals are somewhat hardened to a desert life, three years without rain is pushing it.
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Beef farmer Ted Finnie noticed that a hole on his property had started to grow in size. He always knew the hole was there, but recently he realized that wombats have been digging deeper into the hole to find water.
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The hole, or crater, is about 65 feet in diameter and goes about 13 feet into the ground. The "wombat soak" is vital for the survival of local animals, and has attracted many thirsty species, including kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, emus, birds, goannas, possums, and echidnas.
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Mr Finnie set up a hidden camera next to the underground well, and captured photos of all its visitors.
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According to Western Sydney University biologist Julie Old, there are no other instances of wombats digging for water. The site on Mr Finnie's property is the first time this has been recorded - and the first time other animals have been found to use the well too.
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Although this event is unique, it seems as though wombats have a special skill for finding underground water and digging to find it.
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Some people call wombats "ecological engineers" because the underground burrows they dig make good habitats for other animals (when the wombats find new burrows).
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In the bushfire season, there have been many instances of other animals sheltering inside wombat burrows. While wombats are solitary animals, they didn't kick out the other animals - and saved many lives.
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Who would have known that the wombat had such a penchant for helping other animals survive.
Wombats Save Other Animals by Finding Underground Water Wells
Wombats, one of Australia's unique native animal species found nowhere else on Earth, have made the news as heroes. While the cuddly, squat creatures don't really do much - except for eat, sleep and snuffle around - a few wombats have recently burrowed to an underground well, leading many other species to the water supply. In a place where it hasn't rained for three years, finding water is essentially life-saving.
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