Monarto Celebrate Tasmanian Devil Breeding Success

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: May 19, 2021 1:20 am

Monarto Safari Park Tasmanian Devil Breeding

A Tasmanian Devil joey develops inside the pouch at Monarto Safari Park

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

Monarto Safari Park have celebrated a successful season for the Tasmanian Devil breeding program, adding nine precious joeys to the population of this threatened species.

Three females, Violet, Wanda and Polly have been found to be carrying joeys with two, three and four joeys respectively.

Simon Dower, a natives keeper at Monarto Safari Park said, “Breeding season is always a very exciting time for us at the park,” says Simon.

“Tasmanian Devils are an incredibly complex and fascinating species so to be part of ensuring the future of their survival is a real privilege for the team.”

All of the joeys were born within a month of one another. The hairless joeys are being kept safe and warm in the pouch where they are attached to their mom’s teat being nourished by milk.

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Keepers take a hands-off approach with these precious arrivals. Outside of their initial health check keepers give them plenty of quiet time to raise their young and lots of food to keep them nourished.

“Sadly, wild Tasmanian Devil numbers have plummeted over the past two decades due to the aggressive Devil Facial Tumour Disease which has devastated wild populations,” says Simon.

“We work with a number of partner organisations across Australasia in a collaborative captive breeding and release program to safeguard this species into the future.”

Monarto Safari Park have provided captive bred joeys for release in to disease-free populations on Maria Island.

Keepers are still hopeful for more joeys this year. Another female Jessie was paired with a male and keepers will find out if she has been successful in late May. Two or more joeys from this mother would create the most successful breeding season ever at Monarto Safari Park.