WOMBAT'S 'STRANGE' ACT BY THE WATER CAPTURED BY TOURISTS
- Wombat spotted in ocean
- Experts surprised by behaviour
- READ MORE: Who knew wombats could swim?
The strange behaviour of a wombat has baffled two American tourists as well as wombat experts.
Chaz and Bee Taylor filmed the wombat while hiking near Bluff Hill Point on Tasmania's northwest coast.
The video shows the wombat appearing to forage in the shallow water.
'We really didn't know what a wombat looked like exactly, so that delighted us,' Ms Taylor said.
'We come from Montana and we have a lot of bears, so to us this looked like a little friendly bear.
'It's very much a land animal — most animals you don't see do that,' Mr Taylor said.
The couple were unsure if the behaviour was normal and sent their video to the Wombat Protection Society of Australia (WPSA).
The experts were just as baffled as the Taylors.
Victorian WPSA director Jennifer Mattingley told the ABC although she had heard of similar behaviour, but it was the first time she had seen a wombat behave like that.
'We were really grateful that they've sent [the video] in because to us it's unusual behaviour.'
The WPSA suggested the wombat was finding extra nutrients in the sea grasses and plants missing from its diet.
They also thought the wombat could have been drinking fresh water as it entered the sea.
Former University of Tasmania wildlife ecologist Professor Scott Carver also told the ABC while he is aware of wombats swimming occasionally, an ocean-going wombat was unusual.
Professor Carver said it was impossible to know what led the wombat to the water without further research, though he believes it could be health-related.
'There are lots of cases of animals that will actually go and try and deliberately acquire things like salts and other minerals,' he said.
The WPSA wrote they are investigating the wombat's aquatic antics and requested information of any similar behaviour.
'Unfortunately, there is a great deal of mystery regarding wombats and their life styles.'
READ MORE: Wombat 'rips off' part of woman's hand