The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial about the size of a small dog that used to live on mainland Australia, but is now only found in the wild on the Australian island of Tasmania.
A combination of hunting, habitat destruction, competition with dingoes and changes brought about by human presence have led to the disappearance of Tasmanian devils from mainland Australia. Additionally, cancer is a common cause of death among specimens of this species.
But in the midst of all this, there is also good news. The Australian Reptile Park, which is located in New South Wales, announced the arrival of eight Tasmanian devils.
Currently, all the pups are being properly cared for by four different keepers. This is excellent news for a species that is in danger of extinction. Officially, it is categorized as “Threatened” by the IUCN.
How do they take care of the babies?
Tasmanian devil pups require very specific care, and must be fed four times each day, including once at 2am. You cannot miss any of their meals, as they are very vulnerable and all their needs must be attended to quickly.
The Australian Reptile Park itself aims for the births of these eight Tasmanian devils to help raise awareness of the work they do and the importance of maintaining their population.
They work together with the charity Aussie Ark, to establish a safe population that allows the species to reintegrate into its natural habitat.
What are Tasmanian devils like?
The Tasmanian devil reaches a total length of approximately 90 centimeters, including the tail, and weighs more than 8 kilos. The head is similar to that of the dog and its sense of smell is very sensitive and acute. It can locate food many kilometers away.
Devils reach sexual maturity at two years, and reproduce during the months of March and April. Mothers give birth to two to four pups, which attach to the mammary glands in their pouch.
There they live for about four months and then stay with the mother for another five or six months before becoming independent. Life expectancy is relatively short, and most devils do not reproduce after reaching five or six years of age.
Some experts estimate that the species has suffered a population decline of more than 80% from the 1990s to 2008, when it was estimated that there were only 10,000 to 15,000 wild specimens left.
We hope that initiatives such as the Australian Reptile Park can revive their population and help them reintegrate into their natural environment.
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