Much to the delight of Aussi Ark, Re:wild, WildArk and the Australian Reptile Park, the first Tasmanian Devil to return to the wild in Australia has given birth to not one, but three babies. This discovery is not only encouraging, but it has also sparked hope for the future survival of the species.
RELATED: Tasmanian Devil Joeys Born In The Wild For First Time In 3,000 Years
Their journey dates all the way back to 2020, when the baby's mother, Lisa, was released into a wildlife sanctuary in Australia, alongside 11 other Tasmanian Devil's. Now, just three years later, workers at the sanctuary discovered the three babies during a routine health check: “We were in the middle of routine devil health checks when we were overjoyed to discover Lisa had joeys. This is the very first confirmed devil joeys of 2023, and proof yet again that our breeding program and rewilding program is working," explains Tim Faulkner, Aussie Ark managing director.
Thankfully, all the babies are in good condition, with workers at the sanctuary continually monitoring their progress. However, these three babies aren't the only new additions to the sanctuary. In total, 16 new baby joeys have been born, which is definitely a remarkable achievement.
“This is a great example of how returning a species to its wild home can rewild the entire ecosystem. This is particularly important in combatting climate change and biodiversity loss and in improving the overall health of our planet. Aussie Ark is also providing a model for how we can effectively rewild struggling ecosystems around the world," said Janice Chanson, Re:wild senior associate of species conservation.
With 21 Tasmanian Devil adults thriving in the sanctuary, the future is looking bright for these fantastic little creatures. Alongside the most recent new additions, workers at the sanctuary are anticipating a successful breeding season. However, this isn't the only success. Several other zoo's and sanctuaries across the globe have also seen plenty of breeding success. For example, two incredibly rare African elephant twins were born at Samburu National Park in 2022.