And then there is also the rise of social media and the desire to get closer to wildlife than is wise in order to chase more ‘likes’ and ‘follows’.

However, one dilemma that sometimes confronts travellers is knowing when – and if  – to come to the assistance of animals that appear injured or sick.

A few years ago, a father and son in America were widely condemned for loading what they thought was a freezing bison calf into the boot of their car in an ill-fated rescue attempt. The animal was later rejected by its mother.

That incident – as this latest wombat interaction has done – has shone a massive spotlight on the way in which humans interact with wildlife in national parks.

And the basic advice from authorities here in Australia was ‘don’t’ … both for your sake and for the wellbeing of the animals.

“Many Australian animals and birds look incredibly cute and cuddly and display endearing qualities that lure people into a false sense of security,” said a spokesperson for the New South Wales Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) said at that time. “The fact is that ‘wildlife’ are, well … wild and, as a result, people should not directly interact with any wildlife.”

The spokesperson said it was is far better to admire creatures from a safe distance, take photos of them and appreciate them for the wild animals and birds they are, while understanding that their behaviours are unique to them and not to be interpreted as human like qualities.

On its website, Wildlife rescue and Emergency Service (WIRES), has some clear guidelines for people seeking to assist sick, injured and orphaned wildlife.

Its first piece of advice is to stay safe.

“Do not approach snakes, monitor lizards (goannas), bats (flying foxes or microbats), large macropods (kangaroos or wallabies), koalas, or raptors (eagles, falcons or hawks),” it says. “These animals require specialist handling and must be rescued by trained wildlife rescuers.”

And its WIRES says it is also important to keep the animal safe.

“Where you can do so safely remove any threat to the animal’s welfare, including keeping people and pets away to minimise stress to the animal, while waiting for vet transport or for a rescuer to arrive,” it said. “Wherever possible, it is best to leave native animals in the wild, including leaving healthy young animals with their parents.”

WIRES says sick or injured animals need to be vet assessed before coming into care.

“It is critical to get sick and injured wildlife vet treatment as quickly as possible, and vets will accept wildlife free of charge,” it said. “If the sick or injured animal is safe to contain (e.g. birds), gently contain the animal and keep it in a warm, dark, quiet place, and transport it to the nearest vet.”

It urges people to call the vet to let them know they are coming and do not give the animal any food or water unless instructed to by a vet or WIRES.

“Improper rescue can hurt or distress the animal and the rescuer, which is why WIRES trains all our volunteers in Australia to provide help effectively, so please exercise caution when handling wildlife,” it said. “Ensure you are wearing appropriate PPE, including gloves when touching any animal.”

• Have you ever sought to help an injured animal in the wild? Have you ever had a scary encounter with wildlife? Comment below.