The wombat is a sturdy, burrowing marsupial native to Australia. A baby wombat is called a joey, a term shared with other marsupials like kangaroos and koalas. This name describes a specialized developmental journey, beginning with a short gestation period. A mother wombat typically carries her young for only 20 to 30 days before giving birth to a single, highly undeveloped joey.
Terminology and Immediate Post-Birth
The immediate post-birth experience for a wombat joey is an instinctive journey. At birth, the joey is tiny, weighing approximately two grams and measuring only about two centimeters long. This newborn is hairless, blind, and functionally deaf, existing in the “pinkie” stage.
Despite its premature state, the joey possesses strong forelimbs and an innate sense of direction. It must immediately crawl from the birth canal up the mother’s fur to the safety of the pouch. Once inside, the joey attaches firmly to one of the mother’s two teats. The teat swells inside the baby’s mouth, which locks the joey in place and prevents it from detaching or falling out.
Unique Marsupial Development in the Pouch
The maternal pouch, or marsupium, serves as the joey’s external incubator and is adapted to the mother’s burrowing lifestyle. Unlike the upward-opening pouches of kangaroos, a wombat’s pouch opens backward, toward the rear legs. This orientation prevents soil and debris from entering and suffocating the developing young while the mother is actively digging.
The joey remains attached to the teat for several months, receiving specialized milk and completing its fetal development. Significant milestones occur within the pouch, including the growth of fur, which typically begins between four and five months of age. The joey remains inside the pouch, nursing and growing, for an extended period, often averaging between six and ten months.
Weaning and Achieving Independence
The transition from full-time pouch life begins when the joey has grown substantially and starts to peek its head out. This initial curiosity is followed by short excursions out of the pouch, gradually increasing in duration as the joey gains strength and coordination. The joey typically leaves the pouch permanently around eight to nine months of age, when it is too large to fit back inside.
After leaving the pouch, the young wombat is not yet independent and continues to nurse for several more months. Weaning, the transition from mother’s milk to solid foods, is usually complete between 11 and 15 months of age. During this time, the joey remains close to its mother, learning foraging techniques and relying on her burrow for shelter until it achieves independence, which occurs around 18 months of age.