CANBERRA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Winnie, Australia's oldest wombat, has celebrated her 31st birthday, likely making her the oldest wombat in the world, according to experts.
Winnie has been a resident of Canberra's National Zoo since 1992 when she was moved there after she was orphaned as a joey and raised by hand in New South Wales (NSW).
Renee Osterloh, an expert from the National Zoo and Aquarium, said that wombats in captivity live for up to 26 years, making Winnie "quite rare and unusual."
"Wombats are a nocturnal species but Winnie loves to get out and explore," Osterloh told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Saturday.
"Visitors often find her digging burrows in the enclosure and playing with a lot of enrichment items like tubs and barrels that keep her entertained and stimulated throughout the day."
The marsupials, which can weigh up to 35 kg, are native to Australia and are mostly found in the country's southeast.
Winnie's diet consists of grated carrot, sweet corn and sweet potato which, with her active lifestyle, has likely contributed to her long life, Osterloh said.
"She's been heavily loved here at the zoo," she said.
"She's definitely been able to live a very long and happy life here and hopefully many more years to come."
Winnie's social media accounts have over 1,000 followers who are regularly updated with photos of the marsupial.
"It came about when Patrick the wombat from Ballarat Wildlife Park was looking for love and put the call out there for other wombats to see whether or not there was compatibility," Osterloh said.
"We set up a (social media) page for Winnie so the two of them could connect."
"It also provides an opportunity for visitors to see the life of a wombat through the wombat's eyes."
