Devilishly cute joeys at Healesville Sanctuary
A fiendish foursome has started emerging at Healesville Sanctuary.
Three-year-old Tasmanian Devil, Margot, gave birth to a healthy litter of four joeys in March. However, zoo keepers and visitors are only now seeing the joeys’ impish hijinks as they begin to venture out of mum’s pouch.
In total, seven joeys across two litters have been born this year at Healesville Sanctuary as part of its breeding program for this endangered species.
Healesville Sanctuary Threatened Species keeper Grace McKenzie said mum and joeys are bonding well.
“Margot’s joeys are just starting to emerge now at the five-month-mark, but will remain close to mum for another few months,” said Ms McKenzie.
“We are currently seeing the joeys spend most of their time nestled in their den. If they do venture out with mum, they’ll either be vying for a spot on her back or journeying with her by clinging to her pouch.
“When they are closer to eight months old, they’ll start causing more mischief by exploring their environment, playing with their sibling, stealing food from mum and climbing trees.”
A major threat for Tasmanian Devils in the wild is a contagious cancer – devil facial tumour disease – which has led to an 80 per cent decline in populations over the past 20 years.
Healesville Sanctuary and the Save the Tasmanian Devil breeding recovery program aims to maintain a disease-free insurance population, to ensure a long-term future for the species.
Visitors to Healesville Sanctuary have the opportunity to see the Tasmanian Devil joeys along the Woodlands Track.