The Australian Reptile Park introduces eight Tasmanian Devil Joeys

The Australian Reptile Park has announced the arrival of eight Tasmanian devil joeys who are being meticulously cared for and hand raised by four different keepers.

The Tasmanian devils require four feeds each day, including one at 2am. Not one feed-time can be skipped and it is imperative to the devil’s health that these needs are met, and each keeper makes the time each day to make sure the devils are well looked after. The keepers raising the joeys are Erica Johnstone, Dean Reid, Brandon Gifford and Hewin Hochkins.

Keeper Johnstone notes "there’s nothing more special than looking after and hand raising Tasmanian Devil joeys. They’re arguably one of Australia’s most precious, endangered species and it feels amazing to help them grow up happy and healthy.”

The Tasmanian devils will each act as ambassadors for the species as a whole, and will help raise awareness of the work the Australian Reptile Park and its charity Aussie Ark is doing to establish an insurance population so that the species can one day eventually go back to the wild thriving.

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 95% since its discovery in 1996. DFTD continues to menace the wild Tasmanian devil population.  With still no cure or vaccine in sight and a continuing population decline, insurance breeding programs like Aussie Ark and the Australian Reptile Park continue to be the species’ best hope of long-term survival.

Visitors will be able to get up close and personal with the joeys every single day of the school holidays and have the opportunity to meet the joeys in exciting new encounters and photo opportunities.

These school holidays, The Australian Reptile Park will also be turning into an action-packed ADVENTURE ZONE! In a celebration of getting outdoors and having fun, visitors will experience non-stop exhilaration and adrenaline in the ‘Adventure Zone’ with hands on, fun activities including an inflatable obstacle course, bungee trampolines and a jumping castle..

The Australian Reptile Park is a hands-on wildlife sanctuary located in the natural bush setting of the Central Coast of NSW.

More information at www.reptilepark.com.au