18 Aug HELP NAME US
Adopt a Tasmanian Devil this month, to be in the running to name and meet our newest arrivals!
Aussie Ark, alongside the Australian Reptile Park have been very busy with their newest bundles of joy – twin brother Tasmanian devils. The tiny devils are already showing cheeky personalities, and love keeping surrogate dad Hewin on his toes. The young joeys are yet to be named, and keepers at Aussie Ark and the Australian Reptile Park are calling on the public to help give them their new monikers.
Every person who adopts a Tasmanian devil from Aussie Ark in the next month, until September 20th, will be in the running to not only name the devil joeys but to also meet the newest arrivals at the Australian Reptile Park.
These young joeys were born at Aussie Ark as part of the insurance population for the endangered Tasmanian devil. The joeys are calling the Australian Reptile Park home for now and are being hand raised by Keeper Hewin Hochkins.
“I’m lacking a little sleep at the moment, feeding these guys every few hours is hard work, but I wouldn’t change a thing!” said mammals Keeper Hewin Hochkins. “They’re already showing off their personalities and I’m excited to watch them grow”
Hand-raising Tasmanian devils is no easy task. They require round the clock care, warm snuggles and bottle feeds around four to five times a day, including a feed at 4:00am. The duo will be hand-raised by Keeper Hewin for the next eight months until they are independent enough to re-join their family at Aussie Ark. For now, they are residing at the Australian Reptile Park, where they will become ambassadors for their species – an important role for the youngsters.
“Tasmanian devils are one of the most iconic native species Australia has, they’re feisty, rambunctious and play a critical role in Australian ecosystems” Aussie Ark President and Australian Reptile Park Director Tim Faulkner said.
Mr Faulkner continued, “90% of the wild Tasmanian devil population has disappeared due to devil facial tumour disease. The Aussie Ark breeding program is creating a long-term future for this species, these youngsters are now a big part of that!”
In eight month’s time, they will make their return to Aussie Ark and be released into a wild protected sanctuary – the largest of its kind for Tasmanian devils. Aussie Ark’s population of Tasmanian devils are free from the devastating devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) that plagues wild populations.
Aussie Ark relies solely on the community to continue its work and ensure a future for threatened native species.
Each adoption will assist Aussie Ark to secure a long-term future for Australia’s threatened wildlife.
