14 Tasmanian Devil Joeys Born At Ark

The Joey tally is triple last year’s result, with more births still possible!

Conservation charity Aussie Ark has uncovered a Tasmanian Devil baby boom during the first pouch checks of 2026, confirming an incredible 14 new joeys in its endangered species breeding and rewilding program on NSW's Barrington Tops.

The result has thrilled wildlife staff, with the joey tally already three times higher than the same period last year, and the potential for even more young to arrive before the breeding season concludes. For a species fighting for survival against the devastating Devil Facial Tumour Disease, every new joey is a reason to celebrate.

Aussie Ark manages the largest insurance population of Tasmanian Devils on mainland Australia, playing a critical role in securing the future of the species.

During the annual pouch checks, wildlife staff trapped females from two breeding enclosures to assess the health of mothers and young. The results exceeded expectations.

Seven females were successfully examined, with six carrying pouch young. One additional female showed signs she may still breed this season, meaning the final joey count could climb even higher.

The breeding season has been strengthened by the arrival of five new male Devils from Tasmania, introducing valuable genetic diversity into the program.

Aussie Ark Operations Manager Dean Reid led the checks alongside Senior Conservation Ranger Nero Rochet and Wildlife Ranger Laura Chapman.

"This is hands down one of the most exciting days of the year," Mr Reid said. "You never know what you're going to find when you look inside a Devil's pouch. Every joey feels like a win for the species."

"What made today particularly special was checking Dawn and Pebbles, two females I hand-raised myself, and finding they had become mothers for the very first time."

Tasmanian Devil reproduction is one of nature's most remarkable stories. Females can give birth to as many as 40 young, each about the size of a grain of rice. But with only four teats available inside the pouch, only the fastest and strongest survive.

The first checks revealed litters ranging from one to four joeys.

"One female had four joeys, another had three, while others had one or two," Mr Reid said.

"Checking a Devil pouch is like Christmas morning. You know something exciting is inside, but you never know exactly what you're going to get!"

The strong result comes as welcome news following recent years of extreme weather challenges and provides a promising sign for the upcoming breeding season. The newly discovered joeys will become part of Aussie Ark's long-term effort to build healthy, genetically diverse populations capable of supporting future recovery programs. As the tiny Devils continue to grow inside their mothers' pouches, staff will be eagerly awaiting the next round of checks to see whether the baby boom continues.