A two-year-old Tasmanian devil named Mary has returned to Paradise Country wildlife park after escaping in early June [2, 3].
The incident highlights the challenges of managing high-energy wildlife in proximity to urban areas and the resilience of the species in the wild.
Mary slipped out of her enclosure during routine handling [1]. She remained missing for approximately two weeks [1], during which time search teams tracked her movement through the Gold Coast region of Queensland. The animal was eventually located about two km [1, 2] from the park.
Search teams said that Mary survived her time in the wild by scavenging on wildlife remains [1]. This behavior is typical for the species, which are known as opportunistic scavengers.
Officials recaptured the animal on 17 June 2026 [1]. Following her capture, Mary was taken to the Small Animal Specialist Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. She was discharged from the hospital on Monday, 24 June 2026 [3], and has since been returned to the park to continue her recovery.
Paradise Country staff have not disclosed specific changes to enclosure protocols following the escape, but the return of the animal marks the end of a multi-week search operation [1, 3].
“Mary slipped out of her enclosure during routine handling”
The successful recovery of Mary demonstrates the effectiveness of local search efforts and the ability of captive-bred Tasmanian devils to utilize natural instincts for survival. However, the escape underscores the inherent risks associated with the handling of carnivorous marsupials in wildlife parks, where a single lapse in protocol can lead to significant operational disruptions and animal welfare concerns.
