Bob Irwin and RSPCA team up to save endangered wombatsArticle from: AAPFont size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print June 06, 2008 03:45pm

BOB Irwin, father of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, has joined forces with the RSPCA in a bid to save the lives of endangered wombats.


Mr Irwin, 68, wants help in running a project to save the southern hairy nosed wombat in South Australia.

In return, he will help the RSPCA set up a wildlife hospital on the site of a former youth detention centre at Wacol, in Brisbane's west.

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the hospital was badly needed.

"On the Sunshine Coast, you've got Australia Zoo and on the Gold Coast Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is able to help to some extent," Mr Beatty told AAP today.

"But there's a desperate need in the greater Brisbane area. Bob sees this as a real a concern, obviously with the expanding population.

"He believes in the same things that we do, which is that we should be learning to live with wildlife.

"We don't want a situation to develop like it has in America, for example, where the reason you don't see any road kill is because there aren't any animals out in the areas where the highways are because they have all become extinct."

Mr Irwin will also work with the RSPCA to raise awareness of animal welfare with its EMU (educational mobile unit) truck, equipped with computers, displays and a diorama which travels to schools and country shows, Mr Beatty said.

"Bob's very excited about getting on board with that and being able to help us spread the message to students," Mr Beatty said.

"And for us to be able to have his advice as somebody who has become an icon for wildlife in Australia and to be able to tap into his knowledge is fantastic."

In March, Mr Irwin ended his role with Australia Zoo which he founded 36 years ago and which son Steve made into an international drawcard.