NOT-for-profit organisation Devil Ark, a breeding facility to bring Tasmanian devils back from the brink of extinction, revealed its first joeys of the season being bred into the program this week.
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In 2017, they had a very successful number of 51 joeys born into the program and, this year, they have yet again outdone this record.
The joeys are estimated to be 70-80 days old and Stella is already proving to be a fantastic mother.
The joeys were revealed to be two girls and one boy.
Each Tasmanian devil gives birth to more than 30 small joeys, but only the first four that attach to the teat will survive, so even from a very young age it is survival of the fittest.
The joeys will stay in the pouch for another few months.
They will then leave the pouch, before moving onto mum’s back.
They are expected to become fully independent about December, ready to do their part for the breeding population at Devil Ark.
“We couldn’t be happier with the result of todays’ pouch check,” Devil Ark president Tim Faulkner said.
“All of the joeys we have checked so far have been healthy and strong in the pouch and all mums are in spectacular condition.
“It’s outstanding to break our record, and we can’t wait to watch the little joeys grow.
“We have worked so hard in the past seven years to build the Tasmanian devil population and to have had each breeding season bigger than the last it really goes to show all of our hard work is paying off.”
Devil Ark has come a long way since 2011.
Opening the Barrington Tops facility, which is located 74km from Scone, with only 44 founder devils, Devil Ark has now truly grown into a healthy insurance population.
Its directors and keepers will maintain their fantastic work and continue to build their population of Tasmanian devils every year.
Currently classified as endangered, the Tasmanian devil is under threat from a transmissible disease called Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).
In Tasmania, the disease has reduced the wild population to less than 90 per cent in some areas.
DFTD continues to risk the endangered Tasmanian devil population.
With still no cure or vaccine in sight and a continuing population decline, insurance programs like Devil Ark continue to be the species’ best hope of long term survival.
More information is available at www.devilark.org.au
