The Newest, Cutest Baby Animals from the World's Zoos & Aquariums

Tasmanian Devils Get a Checkup

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As the Taronga Zoo vet staff performs check-ups on their new little Tasmanian Devil joeys, we check back in on these feisty little babies. Characterized by their black fur, pungent odour when stressed, extremely loud and disturbing screech, and ferocity when feeding1, Tasmanian Devils make poor dinner guests.  

Baby tasmanian devil joey taronga zoo 1 

Baby tasmanian devil joey taronga zoo 2 

Baby tasmanian devil joey taronga zoo 3 

Baby tasmanian devil joey taronga zoo 4Photo credits: Lorinda Taylor / Taronga Zoo 

As mentioned in our previous post, a recent epidemic has devastated the Tasmanian Devil population and researchers are racing to protect the species. You can help by learning more and donating.

1. Couldn't resist using this perfectly worded line from the BBC.

15 responses to “Tasmanian Devils Get a Checkup”

  1. CZ Avatar
    CZ

    something about the handler’s nail polish adds extra charm to these pics

    Reply
  2. Carolyn C Avatar
    Carolyn C

    They are fascinating…. but need a new PR Agent.
    Poor little tykes, I’ll bet they’d be welcome guests any Tasmanian Devils’ do, where humans would never be invited.
    Wonder what THEY think of their human handlers?
    (THAT”S a blog of a different sort).

    Reply
  3. andrew b Avatar
    andrew b

    I hear you Carolyn, but looking at it from a different perspective, their over-the-top testiness is great for Taz Devil PR! If they were called, Bush Possums or Tasmanian Dog Rats, I bet they would never have inspired a beloved cartoon character to introduce them to much of the world or commanded the attention they do now that they need human help.

    Reply
  4. Carolyn C Avatar
    Carolyn C

    Very good, Andrew. (I did have my tongue firmly implanted in my cheek the whole time I was typing.)
    Been reading more about the little Devils and even listened to some taped screeching.
    Your baby Devils don’t look very scary. I hope they continue to do well with the excellent care they’re receiving. Thanks for sharing them. 😉

    Reply
  5. fumbling around Avatar
    fumbling around

    I just read about that nasty facial tumor disease on the tassie devil website, thanks for the link. I hope they can find a treatment for this disease. Those pictures are awful.

    Reply
  6. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Andrew B, you’re 100 percent right that the description you borrowed came from the BBC — but the BBC got it from Wikipedia! I wonder where Wikipedia got it? (Is there any way to look up, in a Wikipedia article, who the original contributor was?)
    In 2006 I got in an argument with my local newspaper about something they published that I was sure was wrong (by coincidence it was animal-related; the number of marine mammal species — they published a number that was too large to an insane degree), and the best source I could find to refute it was a Wikipedia article (if I’d known about Zooborns back then, I might have referred them to you!), and the editor I was trying to convince rejected Wikipedia out of hand as not being a journalistic-quality source.
    Hmm, not good enough for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, but good enough for the BBC. Not very logical.
    As always, thanks for the blog.

    Reply
  7. Muffy Avatar
    Muffy

    I just love the top photo, especially the glimpse of the baby teeth. I know, they won’t be tiny teeth for long! But look how cute he/she looks.

    Reply
  8. Andrew B Avatar
    Andrew B

    Michael,
    Good point. I am typically pleasantly surprised by the accuracy of Wikipedia pages on animal species but it is 100% right to be cautious.
    In this case it appears this claim showed up in this article from the outset, when it was created by a Wikipedia old-timer administrator in 2001! While I see nothing in his profile that leads me to believe he is particularly credentialed when it comes to zoology, he appears to have a very long and responsible editing history, which is at least one check mark in his favor.
    – Andrew

    Reply
  9. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    These babies are cute, whatever their reputation – smelly, aggressive, with a loud bark. What the zoos are doing to preserve the species despite all that is amazing. Maybe a cure will be found, and these ‘devils’ can live outside zoos.
    In the mean time we get to see them, up and close and personal. And to see these babies, not so happy, but healthy, is a joy.

    Reply
  10. Adrienne Avatar
    Adrienne

    They can be hugely affectionate and sweet animals to their human handlers. See

    Reply
  11. Adrienne Avatar
    Adrienne

    Tassie Devils can be cranky, but they can also be sweet as anything. They really have far worse of a rep than they deserve.
    See this video of a man showing off the joeys in the pouch of a female devil he raised:


    Note that she fusses a teeny bit, but she has enough trust with this man to let him handle the babies in her pouch.

    Reply
  12. Norton Avatar
    Norton

    they r so cute

    Reply
  13. tumor cells Avatar
    tumor cells

    HI these little fellas make quite noisy sound The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) belongs to the family Dasyuridae. The genus Sarcophilus contains two other species known only from Pleistocene fossils, S. laniarius and S. moomaensis. The relationships between the three species are not clear. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the devil is most closely related to quolls, and more distantly to the extinct Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger)
    thanks

    Reply
  14. leena Avatar
    leena

    wow they remind me of rats, i wanna be animal rescuer, so i take notes when it comes to this website….thanks u sooooo much for the post. love it!!! they look cute.

    Reply
  15. ecommerce Avatar
    ecommerce

    so funny! saw tasmanian devil only in looney tunes 🙂

    Reply

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