The small, black marsupials called Tasmanian devils are making a comeback to mainland Australia after a 3,000 year absence.
It’s believed dingos wiped the devils out whilst a contagious facial cancer, reduced the devil population on the island state of Tasmania by up to 90%.
But last month, they were brought back to a sanctuary in New South Wales thanks to intrepid conservationists and some superheroic help from actor Chris Hemsworth, better known as the hammer-swinging Thor.
HEMSWORTH: “We’ve laid some traps to catch the devils, and then we’re going to release them out into the wild?”
FAULKNER: “Correct. They’ve had an incredible journey from Tasmania to make sure they’re not disease free before they turn up here. We’ve bred nearly 400 joeys, and we’re at the point now that we’re able to harvest some to return to wilds, start to rebuild our ecosystems here.”
That’s Tim Faulkner, who runs the conservation group Aussie Ark.
“Today marks the first time in 3000 years, or thereabouts, that the Tasmanian devil has roamed mainland forests and as an apex predator, it’s critically important.”
Now, eleven have been set loose in the sanctuary, with plans to release 20 more next year.
Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world but Aussie Ark says bringing devils back to the mainland will help to rebalance the forest ecology, damaged by the introduction of invasive predators.
