Tasmanian Devil Joeys Undergo Health Check at Monarto

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: September 3, 2021 2:15 am

Tasmanian Devil Health Check Monarto Safari Park

One of the Tasmanian devil joeys is held by a zookeeper during its health check

Photo Credit: Geoff Brooks

Seven Tasmanian devil joeys have had their health checks at Monarto Safari Park with two other joeys born this year having completed these checks a few weeks earlier.

These devils are now six months old,” said keeper Simon Dower, admiring the seven. “They were all weighed, had their teeth checked and had a general once over.”

“We also give them a microchip and take a DNA sample for genetics; useful for future breeding, planning and for research.”

A vet inspects one of the Tasmanian devil joeys during its health check at Monarto Safari Park

Photo Credit: Geoff Brooks

This year three females welcomed joeys to three different fathers as Simon explained, “The joeys, born to first time mums Polly and Wanda and second-time mum Violet and Dads Madigan, Moama and Naz were all found to be in good health with four females and five boys.”

“This year’s breeding season was flawless,” continued Simon. “All our plans were well executed and in total we had nine joeys. We will now wait for the species coordinator, the person who plans where the joeys will go or who they will breed with, to advise what happens next.”

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Monarto Safari Park maintain a successful breeding program for the Tasmanian Devil. At present 31 of these animals are being cared for at the park.

Some of the joeys produced as part of this program have been returned to the wild on Maria Island where they join a number of other devils in the next phase of the recovery program.

A vet inspects one of the Tasmanian devil joeys during its health check at Monarto Safari Park

Photo Credit: Geoff Brooks

In the wild Tasmanian devil populations have been decimated as a result of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. This is one of the few transferrable cancers and their behaviors allow it to spread more effectively.

Breeding programs such as the one at Monarto Safari Park manage genetic viability in their population to ensure the health of the population. This will help the species to avoid extinction in to the future.

Zoos SA (operators of Monarto Safari Park) will run a content to name the joeys soon.