The adorable barrel of the Australian bush is in trouble.

The problem? A tiny skin mite is sweeping through colonies of wombats across the country. It was first introduced into Australia by European settlers around 200 years ago but has since made wombats it's perfect home. Once a wombat is infected, endless itching, thick skin crusts and deadly infections are the result. Tragically, being infected with the mite is a cruel death sentence for up to 95% of wild wombats.

The scale? Mange mites now infect 90% of the common wombat populations across the country. It’s so serious that even a former wombat wonderland like Narawntapu National Park in Tasmania, which was the home to thousands of wombats, now only has 3 little survivors. And while the southern hairy nose wombat is also affected, it’s believed the already critically endangered northern hairy nose wombat could be wiped out completely if the mite gets a hold within that species.

It’s a truly awful disease to witness and one that we, as Australians, need to start fighting back against. There is no cure and current treatments struggle to be effective long term.

All money raised will create a ‘fighting fund’ to support research into understanding the disease and developing new treatments. Money will also help community groups trying to provide relief to wombats suffering with the disease.

These little faces need hope for a brighter future. Your donation will help deliver that…