Three wombat joeys have been spotted in their mother's pouches, marking a major achievement for the future of the northern hairy-nosed wombat.
Thanks to the Queensland Government's helping hand, the critically endangered species is growing in the wild, after a third population was established in Powrunna State Forest.
They're clearly digging their new home – with wild born-and-bred babies to prove it – after 36 wombats were successfully translocated to the site in South West Queensland.
Powrunna was picked after an extensive search of hundreds of Queensland locations, further supported by predator-proof fencing, water infrastructure, remote cameras and starter burrows.
Rachel Chesher, Regional Director at the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, said the baby wombats aren't just undeniably cute, they're a promising sign for the species' future.
"These babies are a clear tick of approval from the wombats, and a step closer to our goal of establishing a self-sustaining population," Ms Chesher said.
"The northern hairy-nosed wombat is among the rarest mammals in the world, so we're committed to ensuring we keep them on the map for future generations.
"I want to acknowledge our hard-working rangers dedicated to protecting and preserving these animals, in collaboration with Gunggari Traditional Owners, Glencore, The Wombat Foundation and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
"Digging into progress to date, we've also grown the Epping Forest National Park population to more than 400 wombats and established a second wombat population in Richard Underwood Nature Refuge in 2009.
"We'll continue delivering a better future for the northern hairy-nosed wombat, with our decades of research, experience and expertise guiding our decisions."
