Member Blog: Melbourne Zoo plays Devil’s advocate
There are some new faces for members to discover at Melbourne Zoo, with four young Tasmanian Devils recently joining the zoo family: Apricot, Plum, Aunt Beru and Egg.
The three one-year-olds and one two-year-old arrived from New South Wales in collaboration with conservation organisation Aussie Ark, helping to support the ongoing effort to build an insurance population of this endangered species.
While they're still settling into their new home, each devil already has her own personality.
“They’re all so young and full of energy, with lots of different behaviours. It’s great to have some young devils at Melbourne Zoo,” says Keeper Erin. “Plum was very outgoing, she was straight out of her crate and exploring. The others took a little bit of convincing, but once they were out they bunkered down together.”
As you explore the zoo, keep an eye out for the girls enjoying one of their favourite activities: eating. As the world's largest living carnivorous marsupial, Tasmanian Devils aren't known for being picky eaters and can often be seen crunching through a hearty meal, bones and all.
"Tassie Devils are nature’s vacuum cleaners in the wild,” says Keeper Erin. “They scavenge around for any dead animals in their home range, then that can become a bit social when they all feed on the same carcass.”
Beyond their impressive appetites, these remarkable marsupials play an important role in conservation efforts.
“Tassie devils are endangered, so it’s really important to have them at Melbourne Zoo as ambassadors of the species. Their main threat in the wild is the Devil Facial Tumour Disease, which has wiped out a huge portion of the population.”
This highly infectious cancer causes tumours around the mouth, face and neck, and has had a devastating impact on wild populations. Road strikes also remain a significant threat for Tasmanian Devils in the wild.
Through Healesville Sanctuary, Zoos Victoria is a proud partner in the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, helping to breed and manage Devils as part of a long-term insurance population that supports the future of the species.
Next time you visit Melbourne Zoo, make sure to stop by and say hello to Apricot, Plum, Aunt Beru and Egg!
