Tasmanian Devil Importation for US Zoos

[WhistlingKite24]

Instead of placing it into four news threads I thought I would put the news here. Eight Tasmanian Devils will be imported into the United States on June 4th from Tasmania. A pair each for Toledo Zoo, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Columbus Zoo and Saint Louis Zoo.

Article: Government to ship eight Tasmanian Devils to zoos in the United States.

Eight Tasmanian Devils are preparing for a trans-Tasman adventure to the United States, where they are set to become ambassadors for our island state.

The devils will be housed in various zoos across America’s north-east region as part of the Save the Devil Program.

Tasmanian Minister for Parks and Environment Nick Duigan said devils Tequila and Tabasco will call the Toledo Zoo home, while Layna and Tori are bound for the Columbus Zoo.

Mouse and Mozza will settle into the Saint Louis Zoo, while Arya Stark and Valentina will make their home at the Fort Wayne Zoo.

“These devils have been sourced from Insurance Population animals held at Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary, Devils@Cradle and Tasmania Zoo,” Duigan said.

“The devils are receiving their final health checks at the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania Cressy Wildlife Facility ahead of their journey, scheduled for June 4.”

Keepers from the Toledo Zoo visited Cressy this week to prepare for the arrival of the devils.

“This meant keepers could undertake training with The Save the Devil Program team on how to handle the devils and learn more about the species ahead of their export,” Duigan said.

“These devils will play an important conservation role in raising awareness of the plight of the species on the world stage and are an important part of international relationship-building efforts through the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program.”

The Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program began in 2013 and currently involves 21 zoos across New Zealand, Japan, America and Europe.

The state government has pledged ongoing funding to continue the Save the Devil Program until 2030.

 

[pachyderm pro]

I had a feeling a mass import was coming considering the number of elderly individuals that have passed recently. Interesting to see San Diego isn't included as they just lost their last devil a few months back.

 

[SusScrofa]

Very happy to see more Tasmanian Devils coming to the US

Not happy that they're exclusively coming to midwest zoos Why couldn't there be more regional diversity with these imports? San Diego and one or two of the many large east coast zoos (Bronx, National, Miami, etc) would of been a perfect balance. I understand they both have history with them, but Ohio gets two zoos with them that are not much more than two hours apart. And the small Fort Wayne Children's Zoo nearby to them is also an odd candidate. They arent breeding them so why is such a close geographic range necessary.

 

[Persephone]

Very happy to see more Tasmanian Devils coming to the US

Not happy that they're exclusively coming to midwest zoos Why couldn't there be more regional diversity with these imports? San Diego and one or two of the many large east coast zoos (Bronx, National, Miami, etc) would have been a perfect balance. I understand they both have history with them, but Ohio gets two zoos with them that are not much more than two hours apart. And the small Fort Wayne Children's Zoo nearby to them is also an odd candidate. They arent breeding them so why is such a close geographic range necessary.

Fort Wayne has decades of history with them. They held the last devil outside Australia in the time between the export ban and the ambassador program. I agree that it’s odd San Diego wasn’t included, but if their devil died recently they might not have had time to make arrangements before the import. I know Fort Wayne has been trying to make this happen for years so it isn’t a spur of the moment thing.

 

[snowleopard]

This is great news, but I do echo @SusScrofa and their point about regional diversity. I suppose it comes down to history with the species, which does make sense. It's just a pity that a zoo that's never held Tassie Devils couldn't use this opportunity to boost awareness of the plight of the animals, as well as boosting annual attendance numbers.

 

[Jefferson]

These are post-reproductive devils, is that correct?

 

[King of Komodo Dragons]

surprised that san diego isn't getting a pair. I also thought ABQ Biopark wanted to get devils for their new Australia exhibit. Also surprised that St. Louis is getting their pair now as I thought they were making a new Tassie Devil exhibit in the childrens zoo.

 

[Coelacanth18]

Interesting to see San Diego isn't included as they just lost their last devil a few months back.

I agree that it’s odd San Diego wasn’t included

surprised that san diego isn't getting a pair.

Everyone realizes that not all the devils coming to the US have to arrive in one go, right? this could be one of multiple imports.

but if their devil died recently they might not have had time to make arrangements before the import.

This - imports have to be planned in advance. San Diego may not have had the space to hold new devils until after their previous ones passed. They could be planning a separate import, we don't know.

As to all the questions about "why only the Midwest": again, it's possible that this won't be the only import. Perhaps these four imported together because of their geographic proximity. They are also four current/recent holders of the species and members of the ambassador program. Worth noting that the other three recent holders I know of (San Diego, Los Angeles and Albuquerque) are all in another region together.

How two regions of the US ended up holding all the devils I'm not sure, but most of them have a history with keeping other rare Australian animals - wombats, koalas, echidna, etc - so it may just be geographic coincidence of where zoos with Australian specialties are located.

 

[biggest_dreamer]

Bittersweet news - awesome that this is happening, but of course I'm a bit bummed that they're all going to the midwest and the coasts get nothing. I can't help but think that Atlanta's former bush dog exhibit might have been well-suited for them…

That said, do we have any confirmation that these are post-reproductive individuals? I assume they are, but if not then this becomes even more exciting news.

 

[Don Majeski]

Very happy to see more Tasmanian Devils coming to the US

Not happy that they're exclusively coming to midwest zoos Why couldn't there be more regional diversity with these imports? San Diego and one or two of the many large east coast zoos (Bronx, National, Miami, etc) would have been a perfect balance. I understand they both have history with them, but Ohio gets two zoos with them that are not much more than two hours apart. And the small Fort Wayne Children's Zoo nearby to them is also an odd candidate. They arent breeding them so why is such a close geographic range necessary.

Once again, none of the NYC zoos -Prospect Park and Staten Island, in particular , not getting Devils .
Bronx - virtually no marsupials nor Central Park - an ideal location for this unique species - are out as well.
Queens self excluded due to its excellent
Nearctic/Neo Tropical exhibition theme .
Of course it is important for all four zoos with eclectic zoogeographic themes to exhibit Red panda at the exclusion of anything else while not exhibiting the likes of Tasmanian devils.
It appears Prospect Park was gearing towards some Australasian zoogeographic theme but , as they never opened their third thermo controlled indoor habit - still laying fallow as an animal exhibition site - and deacquisitioned their macropods - they left glaring holes in their collection . And this was INTENIONALLY before their meteorological calamity that caused their infrastructure collapse

 

[pachyderm pro]

Everyone realizes that not all the devils coming to the US have to arrive in one go, right? this could be one of multiple imports.



This - imports have to be planned in advance. San Diego may not have had the space to hold new devils until after their previous ones passed. They could be planning a separate import, we don't know.

As to all the questions about "why only the Midwest": again, it's possible that this won't be the only import. Perhaps these four imported together because of their geographic proximity. They are also four current/recent holders of the species and members of the ambassador program. Worth noting that the other three recent holders I know of (San Diego, Los Angeles and Albuquerque) are all in another region together.

How two regions of the US ended up holding all the devils I'm not sure, but most of them have a history with keeping other rare Australian animals - wombats, koalas, echidna, etc - so it may just be geographic coincidence of where zoos with Australian specialties are located.

All goods points. I just presumed this import was focusing on recent holders whose animals aged out, but geographically it makes sense to focus on a specific region. A future import to the Southwest seems likely.

Also surprised that St. Louis is getting their pair now as I thought they were making a new Tassie Devil exhibit in the childrens zoo.

I imagine they'll temporarily house them in another part of the zoo until their new exhibit is completed. The recently vacated capybara exhibit could work, or one of the smaller paddocks in Red Rocks.

These are post-reproductive devils, is that correct?

Considering how short-lived the species is, I'd be surprised if these new individuals are more than a year or two old.

 

[JVM]

The rest of the country gets pandas, the midwest gets devils!

I would bet cold, hard cash this is just phase one of a bigger import. There are more than four more zoos that want devils and can house them.

 

[King of Komodo Dragons]

It probably won't happen but I really want a zoo in Texas to get Tasmanian devils

 

[USZOOfan42]

Does Toledo still have their previous pair? I saw them last together in late April.

 

[Julio C Castro]

I wouldn’t be too surprised if San Diego were to get some devils in the near future. Along with the koalas, the Tasmanian devils were a highlight at the Australian Outback section. I’d see many people stop by and be in awe as they’d traverse their habitat. And seeing that one of their conservation hubs is the Australian Forest and having great connections with Australian zoos, this seems more of a matter of time I presume

Another one that I think may get them, maybe not for a while, would be LA. They were supposed to have imported around from Aussie Ark formerly known as Devil Ark back in 2020-2021, it was posted on their commission notes at the time. I certainly would love to see them again, their habitat was pretty nice and alway were a joy to see!

 

[MRJ]

Along with the koalas, the Tasmanian devils were a highlight at the Australian Outback section. I’d see many people stop by and be in awe as they’d traverse their habitat.

This always amuses me, given that neither the devil nor the koala live in the Outback.

 

[Julio C Castro]

This always amuses me, given that neither the devil nor the koala live in the Outback.

It’s what happens when zoos decide to stick to a theme and have to work around it

 

[WhistlingKite24]

An additional article and video. The devils are currently in transit. The plan for Toledo Zoo is to trial and see if they can mix their two existing seven-year-old devils with their new pair. To respond to previous comments, there are talks occurring for additional imports soon to the west coast of the United States (i.e. San Diego) along with Prague and Auckland according to the article: Tassie devil squad off to the US to show Americans they are not just 'a cartoon character'

 

[biggest_dreamer]

To respond to previous comments, there are talks occurring for additional imports soon to the west coast of the United States (i.e. San Diego)

Okay, good, now keep going.....

 

[JVM]

So the devils have arrived in the US by now as reported elsewhere, they will obviously be under quarantine for a period. Can it be presumed the Fort Wayne, Toledo and Columbus individuals will be on display in the relatively near future, unless anyone knows of anything otherwise? I assume Saint Louis will wait until the Emerson Children's Zoo renovations are complete, though I have heard they have the capability to let the devil exhibit be viewable?