A group of Tasmanian Devils have been born on Australia’s mainland for the first time in more than 3,000 years, a conservation group said.
The seven newborns have raised hope the endangered animals can sustain a new breeding population.
Tasmanian Devils were wiped out on the mainland after being hunted by dingoes, a type of wild dog, and have been confined to the island state of Tasmania ever since.
However a facial tumour disease saw numbers drop on Tasmania too–there are believed to be fewer than 25,000 left in the wild.
There is no evidence to date of the decline in devils stopping or the prevalence of the disease decreasing, according to Aussie Ark conservation group.
The animals, made famous by the fierce Looney Tunes cartoon character known as “Taz”, were listed as endangered on the United Nation’s Red List in 2008.
“In 100 years, we are going to be looking back at this day as the day that set in motion the ecological restoration of an entire country,” Tim Faulkner, Aussie Ark President said.
Aussie Ark said the seven joeys were in good health and rangers will monitor their growth over the next few weeks.
It released 26 adults into the wild in late 2020, which have now produced the seven new joeys.
