A WOMBAT has been diagnosed with depression - after being denied the cuddles and pats he was used to following Cyclone Yasi.
The wombat, named Tonka, shed 20 percent of his body weight as visitors were stopped from visiting his wildlife park home in the eight weeks after Cyclone Yasi tore through northern Queensland, reported the Townsville Bulletin.
Tonka's carers at the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville spared no expense in vet checks and lab bills as they tried to work out the cause of his mysterious illness.
Billabong Sanctuary manager Brett Flemming said after "forking out some serious cash" they found the problem - and have since nursed him back to health, in time for the repaired park to reopen.
"Tonka was hand-reared by one of our rangers and normally spends a good part of his day with people," he said.
"At Billabong he is the star. Everyone wants to visit Tonka.
"After the cyclone he missed the public - the patting, the photos, the cuddles and the endless posing for the paparazzi."
Wombats are bulky, short-legged marsupial herbivores native to Australia, about 40 inches (one meter) long.
-- Edited by goinsoon on Friday 27th of January 2012 11:00:15 AM
Here's the full story, I have sent Tonka a couple of email's and he report's that he is all better now
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Friday 27th of January 2012 01:36:30 PM
aussietraveller said
06:53 PM Jan 27, 2012
I have just recieved my latest Caravan and Motor home magazine and to my distress I read that in Townsville there is a depressed Wombat who is needing lots of cuddles and attention, has anybody seen Wombat recently because this could be contagous and we would miss him terribly
jonathan said
06:56 PM Jan 27, 2012
I think our Wombie's already on medication .. if that don't work then maybe his last rights are appropriate ..
Gerty Dancer said
06:56 PM Jan 27, 2012
Hes been busy taking a cruise on the Leeuwin ll, which is not depressing at all . Looking forward to pics.
milo said
09:08 PM Jan 27, 2012
in that pic he looks like he's enjoying the company of a couple of lovely ladies.. lucky bugger..
Dougwe said
03:33 AM Jan 28, 2012
Good to hear wombat
Cruising Granny said
05:02 AM Jan 28, 2012
I knew it! Even wombats respond to cuddles and loving. No wonder I'm depressed. Bloody wombats! They get all the attention. Sniff! Sniff! Sniff!
A WOMBAT has been diagnosed with depression - after being denied the cuddles and pats he was used to following Cyclone Yasi.
The wombat, named Tonka, shed 20 percent of his body weight as visitors were stopped from visiting his wildlife park home in the eight weeks after Cyclone Yasi tore through northern Queensland, reported the Townsville Bulletin.
Tonka's carers at the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville spared no expense in vet checks and lab bills as they tried to work out the cause of his mysterious illness.
Billabong Sanctuary manager Brett Flemming said after "forking out some serious cash" they found the problem - and have since nursed him back to health, in time for the repaired park to reopen.
"Tonka was hand-reared by one of our rangers and normally spends a good part of his day with people," he said.
"At Billabong he is the star. Everyone wants to visit Tonka.
"After the cyclone he missed the public - the patting, the photos, the cuddles and the endless posing for the paparazzi."
Wombats are bulky, short-legged marsupial herbivores native to Australia, about 40 inches (one meter) long.
-- Edited by goinsoon on Friday 27th of January 2012 11:00:15 AM
GS where did you get that picture of me
Here's the full story, I have sent Tonka a couple of email's and he report's that he is all better now
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Friday 27th of January 2012 01:36:30 PM
I think our Wombie's already on medication .. if that don't work then maybe his last rights are appropriate ..
in that pic he looks like he's enjoying the company of a couple of lovely ladies.. lucky bugger..
Good to hear wombat
No wonder I'm depressed. Bloody wombats! They get all the attention. Sniff! Sniff! Sniff!