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After years of dedication protecting the Tasmanian Devil, Conservation organisation Aussie Ark is celebrating an exciting and emotional milestone with the birth of their 500th Tasmanian Devil joey.

The Tasmanian Devil is Aussie’s Ark’s symbolic and signature species. The organisation was first established to save the species from extinction when the deadly Devil Facial Tumour Disease threatened to wipe out the species in the mid-1990s.

Managing Director Liz Gabriel shared “each individual baby is so precious. And this joey, and what he represents, is so special for all of us who have been dedicated to saving the species for so many years.” 

The journey to this remarkable milestone began in 2011 when Aussie Ark’s Barrington Tops facility received its first cohort of 44 disease-free Devils from Tasmania, initiating an ambitious breeding and rewilding program.

A significant milestone followed with the release of 11 Devils into the 400 hectare Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary, marking the first time Devils had stepped foot on mainland Australia for over 3000 years. Since that time the Devils have continued to breed and thrive in the wild sanctuary, with Aussie Ark now caring for the largest insurance population of Tasmanian Devils in the world. 

Managing Director Tim Faulkner said the 500th joey is not just proof of the program’s success but also a symbol of hope for resurrecting Australia’s ecology in the future.

“The Devil is an apex species,” Faulkner said. “In the wild in Tasmania, it protects and provides for the entire ecosystem. It improves and balances out the environment. And that’s a real conservation bang for buck. I love the Devil…and so does Aussie Ark!” 

The historic 500th joey is a male, approximately four months old, birthed by Devil mum Paddy. The momentous discovery and official count took place during the annual pouch checks conducted by Aussie Ark’s Conservation Manager Hayley Shute and Operations Manager Dean Reid. This little joey will spend the entirety of his life wild and free in the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary, the very place he was born.

As a forever reminder of his ‘milestone’ status, the joey has been named Milo!   

Aussie Ark thanks its major partners, donors and supporters for all their help arriving at this historic moment; the Australian Reptile Park, Re:Wild, WildArk, FAME, Australian Geographic, WIRES, Symbio Wildlife Park and Glencore.

To support Aussie Ark in their vital mission to safeguard the Tasmanian Devil and contribute to the preservation of Australia’s unique biodiversity, please donate now at aussieark.org.au and give home to the iconic species.

Image top: 500th Tasmanian Devil close up Credit: Aussie Ark; Liz Gabriel, Tim Faulkner, Hayley Shute with Tasmanian Devil Credit: Aussie Ark; Archive Tasmanian Devil joey Credit: Aussie Ark

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