VIDEO: Tasmanian devil and her new babies
DEVIL ARK, a non-for-profit organisation dedicated to saving Tasmanian devils from extinction, have had a record breaking breeding season having confirmed 51 healthy Tasmanian devil joeys.
According to the Australian Reptile Park, “Each female devil gave birth to over 30 minuscule joeys, but only the first four that attach to a teat will endure, so it’s survival of the fittest from the minute they are born.”
While the joeys are now four months old, they’ll still remain with their mothers for another two months, after which they’ll leave their mother’s pouch and join breeding populations.
Devil Ark president and the general manager of the Australian Reptile Park, Tim Faulkner said that while they welcomed the positive health checks carried out this week, there’s still a long way to go.
“Australia has the worst small mammal extinction rate on earth, almost as many as the rest of the world combined. Australia is unique and under attack from disease, feral predators and habitat destruction. Our organisations are committed to reversing this trend or at very least stalling.”
READ MORE:
- VIDEO: George the wombat.
- Breeding program ups the ante to save devils.
- VIDEO: Levi the hand-reared Tassie devil.
- Tarkine mines last straw for Tasmanian devils?
- Gallery: Tasmanian devils.
