TASMANIAN DEVIL BABY BOOM ONE YEAR ON FROM ADULT RELEASE INTO WILD
Conservationists are celebrating, as seven Tasmanian Devil joeys have been born wild on mainland Australia.
More than two dozen adult Tasmanian Devils were released into Aussie Ark’s 400 hectare wild sanctuary in the Barrington Tops late last year – seven of which are reproductive females.
It’s estimated up to 20 joeys will be born in the wild this year, and initial pouch checks have confirmed seven so far.
Aussie Ark president Tim Faulkner says it’s been nerve wracking awaiting their arrival, but the results have been worth it.
“We have been working tirelessly for the better part of 10 years to return devils to the wild of mainland Australia with the hope that they would establish a sustainable population,” Mr Faulkner said.
Aussie Ark rangers will continue to monitor the endangered animals through camera traps, and will conduct more follow up pouch checks in the next few weeks.
In the next two years, Aussie Ark will do two more releases, of 20 devils each.
There are just 25,000 devils left in the Tasmanian wilderness, due to the devastating Devil Facial Tumour Disease.
