That rare moment came on Friday afternoon when Mark answered the rescue call from Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) Regional Head Office in Dubbo.

A wombat had been found at a residence on the corner of Mitchell and Currajong streets in Parkes.

The wild animal had dug a hole in the backyard big enough to hide in, which made it near impossible for Mark to remove it. 

“It is very rare to see a wombat in this area, never less than in town,” Mark said.

“They are an incredibly strong animal.

“I reported the situation to Parkes Police in the event the wombat escaped on to the main road. They were as amazed as I.”

It took Mark half an hour to wrap a lanyard around the wombat but it was still too powerful to extract.

So Mark called on the services of vet Daryl Elphick from Parkes Veterinary Clinic who sedated the animal.

“A big thanks to vet Daryl Elphick who came to the rescue and sedated the wombat,” Mark said.

“The wombat was then safely removed and caged.

“I’ve rescued kangaroos, snakes, but it’s the first time for a wombat."

The wombat was taken to the animal hospital at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo on Saturday, where it weighed in at 22 kilograms.

Mark said the vets at Dubbo said if the wombat can be returned to the wild, they will do so. If not, it will go to Taronga Zoo in Sydney or a wildlife park.

“As a WIRES volunteer for 25 years, this rescue is up there in the top three for unusual,” he said.

“My number one was a kangaroo rescue in Parkes Olympic Swimming Pool in 2002.

“It was during the drought [and] by the time I got there he was pretty buggered, so it was a fairly easy rescue.

“He was as tall as me.”

For any injured wildlife or rescue required call WIRES on 13 000 WIRES or 1300 094 737.