Tasmania's wombat poo paper a hit

Wombat droppings are helping an industrial city in Australia fight the effects of the global financial crisis.

Burnie, in the north-west of the state of Tasmania, has been hit by repeated rounds of job cuts.

But despite the gloom, one local industry is thriving by producing handmade paper out of a material no-one else wants - wombat poo.

The novelty paper is a hit with tourists keen to buy a distinctly Australian souvenir from the area.

The wombat, a furry marsupial, lives in the wild only in Australia.

Its characteristic waddle and playful appearance, makes it one of the country's most endearing native creatures.

'Nice organic smell'

In recent years, a company in the port city has been experimenting with paper made from kangaroo droppings - but its popularity has been eclipsed by wombat-inspired products. ...

Wombats are herbivores and diets loaded with plant fibre make their faeces ideal for making some of Australia's most unusual paper.

via BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Tasmania's wombat poo paper a hit.