Footage of an Australian man cuddling a wombat in a wildlife park has sparked heated debate over whether the animals should be left alone.
A group of Sydneysiders traveled to Taralga Wildlife Park in Taralga, in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, where they filmed themselves cradling the animals.
Some social media users found the video disturbing and called the act an example of “abuse,” arguing that animals should not be kept for entertainment.
“Wombats are not dogs or cats, and they are not just pick-up toys,” one wrote on TikTok.
“This is wildlife, not a pet,” added another.
A third tagged an animal protection organization and asked why it didn’t “ban this animal abuse.”
Another warned international tourists not to try to recreate the experience outside of a wildlife park.
‘Notice to all non-Australians: do not attempt to pet or pick up wild wombats. It won’t go well for you,’ they wrote.
Footage of an Australian man cuddling a wombat in a wildlife park has sparked heated debate over whether the animals should be left alone.
Others thought the activity was both “cute” and “fun”, while some previous visitors claimed the animals liked the attention.
‘So the older wombat loves human attention. “He loves having his belly scratched and actually starts making happy noises when he gets attention,” said one.
Wildlife laws differ across the country; However, in New South Wales, zoos may allow visitors to have contact with some native animals, including wombats, but not koalas.
Taralga Wildlife Park owner John Stafford, who is also mayor of the Upper Lachlan Shire, argued he does not want to defend zoo visitors who embrace native wildlife.
But he believes the experience can dispel misconceptions about marsupials.
Stafford said the animals have a bad reputation in the Goulburn region, especially in the eyes of farmers.
“In some areas they are very frowned upon and are shot regularly,” he said. yahoo.
“But people change when they realize that they are not just a heavy, pathetic-looking thing in the road, but that they are really nice and charming animals.
“People come here and leave absolutely delighted.”
He said even the most experienced farmer can’t help but develop a soft spot for wombats after an intimate experience with these furry creatures.
“A local farmer who was quite old school came with his grandchildren and was amazed by them,” Mr Stafford said.
New South Wales regulations on the handling of animals in sanctuaries go back decades and were designed with the zoo industry’s welfare concerns in mind.
The standards were based on available science and input from experts and industry groups, with oversight from the New South Wales Exhibited Animals Advisory Committee.
In 2023, the New South Wales Government committed to updating these welfare standards as part of a wider review of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.