33-yr-old wombat at Osaka Pref. zoo certified as oldest ever in captivity – The Mainichi – The Mainichi

IKEDA, Osaka -- A 33-year-old male wombat at Satsukiyama Zoo in this west Japan city has recently been certified as the oldest ever captive member of his species, and Guinness World Records sent certificates for a Feb. 11 ceremony at the zoo.

Wain the wombat is over 100 years old in human terms, the zoo said.

The average lifetime of wombats in captivity is 20 to 25 years. Although Wain, who turned 33 in January 2022, has cataract in one eye and his legs and back have weakened, he has won fans for his cutely clumsy but vigorous demeanor as he moves around every day. He is so friendly to humans that he approaches visitors when he sees them holding a camera, apparently because he has lived at the zoo for so long and has gotten used to being photographed.

The secret to Wain's longevity is eating well. The zoo said that his favorite foods are green grass and sweet potatoes, and he also eats special order rusks and almonds to boost his calorie intake.

Zookeeper Iori Matsumoto, 24, cited other keys to Wain's longevity, saying, "He's been kept in a calm, stress-free environment surrounded by nature, and being right next to his good female friend Yuki might have helped, too."

Wain was rescued from the pouch of his mother, who was hit by a car on Australia's Tasmania island in 1989, and was transferred to the city of Ikeda the following year. Currently, four of the six wombats in Japan are at Satsukiyama Zoo. One of them, named Fukumaru, has become a kind of mascot for the city, appearing on posters as part of its local revitalization efforts.

"We hope Wain will stay healthy and live even longer," said zoo vice head and keeper Taiki Endo, 33.

(Japanese original by Makiko Nagao, Student Newspapers Editorial Department)

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33-yr-old wombat at Osaka Pref. zoo certified as oldest ever in captivity - The Mainichi - The Mainichi