Chewbacca Memorial
Chewbacca, the world’s oldest captive wombat, passed away on November 8, 2014. Chewbacca was born in March of 1985 in Australia, and came to the Tama Zoo in Japan on September 4 of that year. Through my Japanese friend Chieko, I’ve known Chewbacca for over ten years. Chieko’s pictures of Chewbacca were a major influence on the character design for the Wombies. Pictures of Chewbacca are courtesy of Chieko and her Womland website which is devoted to documenting the wombats of Japan.
This one caught me by surprise …RIP Chewbacca. His spirit lives on with the Wombies
It’s a sad time in Wombie history, but I hope Chewbacca’s spirit does live on with the Wombies.
I hope wombies live longer than 19 years.
And now, a moment of silence for Chewbacca.
29 years, but you don’t have to worry. Wombies live forever and never grow up.
Woops, for a little while I was only 26. Never grow up, sounds like millennials. 😉
…and half of the rest of the population. Peterpanitis.
Davedandeldils
Is that catching?
Rest in peace, Chewbacca.
Yes, rest in peace, Chewbacca.
Great pictures and great insight to your world! Thanks.
Thanks, Mike.
I leaned something new today. Yes indeed.
Have a fabulous day my friend. 🙂
You can never know enough about wombats.
I didn’t know wombats lived so long. That’s a good thing. I’m sorry to hear about Chewbacca passing.
Most wombats don’t The average age in the wild is 5 to 10 years, so Chewbacca had a long life.
Sad to hear but very interesting at the same time.
It is sad, but Chewbacca was quite active and mostly in good health right up until the end.
RIP Chewbacca. We salute you old fellow. I think Japanese Wombats & I immediately think Wombinjas. Maybe another role for Ed
I’m now wondering how long Wombats normally live for? 29 does seem a fair age when you consider the life span of a well cared for domestic dog.
Wild wombats are supposed to live 5 to 15 years normally. One was recorded to live 20. The oldest know captive wombat lived to be 34 years old. There are at least two other captive wombats that are now 29 years old, a few months younger than Chewbacca was.
Back in the 1980’s, Australia gave Japan quite a few wombats for their zoos, I think around a dozen. I think Hiroki, also 29 years old, is the only one left.
RIP Chewbacca…..you will be sorely missed
Lovely tribute, Peter.
Thanks, Deb. Chewbacca will be missed a lot by many, but especially by Chieko.
It’s just so sad. My heart goes out to Chieko.
Chieko will be grateful to hear that.
R I P
Chewbacca…
It is very sad news
Peter, he certainly has
lived a long life for a
Wombat and I hope he
had a good one 🙂
It is sad news, but Chewbacca did live longer than almost any other wombat. There is only one other wombat known to have lived longer, although there are two other 29 year old wombats in captivity who are slightly younger than Chewbacca was.
You can see the likeness of
Winky in the sweet face that
is Chewbacca 🙂
I wonder how old the other
Wombats are that live at the
zoo? Poor thing, it’s a pity
that he couldn’t have lived
a bit longer, but twenty nine
is a good age I think 🙂
Chewbacca was the only wombat at the Tama zoo. They did have other wombats there at different times, but they had died previously. Twenty nine is a very good age for a wombat, but I would have like to see him live as long as possible. He was quite active and healthy up till the end.
So sorry for the loss. He was a special wombat.
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/
Thank you Joyce. Chewbacca was a pretty famous and special Wombat around Wombania.
Gonna miss that ‘lil guy. Gulls are doing an “Honor Flight” today for Chewbacca.
A 21 Gull salute! Chewbacca would be honored.
RIP Chewbacca. Peter thank you for the valuable service you do for those friends in Wombania and everywhere no doubt Chewbacca appreciated it too.
Thanks, Doron. Chewbacca was, and always will be, a special wombat to all of us here in Wombania.
Farewell, Chewbacca! His photos prove how irresistibly adorable wombies can be!
Wombats can be pretty cute, though I may be a tad biased.
That might be true just a little.
Just a little 🙂
Sayounara Chewbacca…hope you had great life when you were alive. Such a cute wombie
Chewbacca did live a long life, and he seemed to have fun playing in his pen. I certainly hope he lived a good one.
He was so adorable. I’m sure he brightened many lives. His photos of him sure brightened me up.
Yes, I think Chewbacca did touch many lives. After his death, there was a big table of flowers and gifts people left in his honor.
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Yes. We all have to go sometime I suppose. At least Chewbacca had a good run though, as he was the oldest Bare-nosed wombat on record when he died.