Rescued Devils Rewilded!

The Devils were rescued & relocated during this winter’s catastrophic weather event

Conservation organisation Aussie Ark is thrilled to re-wild 14 endangered Tasmanian Devils into its 400-hectare Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary, as the Ark finally recovers from winter’s catastrophic weather events.

The 14 Devils were displaced by this year’s cascading climatic emergencies. Firstly, May’s record-breaking floods, followed by two snow events, and finally the New South Wales ‘weather bomb’ with its high winds and rain. Aussie Ark was badly affected, with felled trees, smashed fencelines and inundated habitats.

The Aussie Ark team made national news as it worked hard in horrific conditions to locate and transfer vulnerable animals from the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary into protected habitats in the Species Recovery Unit, including mother Devils and their joeys.

Thankfully, the warm, rainless spring has brought relief. Aussie Ark is ‘high and dry’, so it’s time to trap, health check, and return the impacted Tasmanian Devils back to the freedom of the Sanctuary.

Wildlife Ranger Laura Chapman was responsible for securing the 14 Devils, which consisted of 12 males and two females. Each Devil was weighed, checked for body condition, and given preventatives to protect from parasites. Ms Chapman personally held high and inspected a six-kilogram male by gripping the Devil’s tail! This is an industry-accepted method as it’s safe for the ranger and entirely pain-free for the animal. The Devils were then transported into the Sanctuary and released; Ms Chapman’s “favourite part”.

“The Devil has been extinct on the mainland for over 3,000 years, so I always find it incredible to see those big carnivorous marsupials gallop off into the bush and be reminded of what Aussie Ark is doing to save the species,” Ms Chapman said. “Watching those 14 Devils disappear into the Sanctuary was such an amazing way to finish what was such a hard year here at Aussie Ark.”