The Tasmanian devil has been reintroduced to the Australian mainland in recent months. In a nature reserve north of Sydney, 26 have been released. It is the first time in three thousand years that they have returned to the wild there.
In the coming years, at least 40 Tasmanian devils will be released into the area, which has few other predators.
Australia had 150,000 Tasmanian devils in the 1990s, but many of these animals died of a rare disease. Today they are mainly found on the Australian island of Tasmania and in zoos. About 25,000 live in the wild in Tasmania.
Nature organization Aussie Ark welcomes the reintroduction of the Tasmanian devil. Chairman Tim Faulkner compares the reintroduction of the carnivorous animal to that of the wolf in Yellowstone, USA. “This is really a dream,” he says. “Introducing a predator of this size to Australia is very nice.”
The Tasmanian devil has a length of 50 to 80 centimeters and can weigh up to 8 pounds. The marsupials are too small to attack humans or livestock, but can become aggressive if they feel threatened. The animal is best known for its extremely loud roar.
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