Devil’s health in the detail

HEALESVILLE Sanctuary’s threatened species staff dared to put their hands in the mouth of nine Tasmanian devils last Wednesday, 2 December.
The examination was part of a routine check-up for mums Beauty and Jane and the very first medical check for seven of the Sanctuary’s 28 Tasmanian devil joeys from the last breeding season.
Healesville Sanctuary’s Tasmanian devil Keeper Tammika McIvor said staff intentionally held off giving the joeys a medical check until they were eight to nine months old.
“We’re managing our devils in a hands-off approach, to do as little as possible to disturb mum and the joeys,” Ms McIvor said.
The Tasmanian devil mums and joeys were given a physical examination and the joeys were microchipped and weighed.
“All the babies are quite chubby, they’re all three kilogrammes above which is really good for their age,” she said.
“They’re definitely being looked after.”
Ms McIvor said the health check also determined which of the joeys would be removed from their mother to form a new social group.
“We chose them by size,” she said. “We’ve grouped four into a social group, two from each family.
“That way they’ve got a sibling and competition, which is good for their social development.
“It helps them become little devil themselves and it certainly take the pressure off mum.”
With 28 Tasmanian devil joeys born this year, Healesville Sanctuary staff members hope the next breeding season will be just as successful.
– Monique Ebrington