Auckland Zoo has welcomed its newest residents with the introduction of two Tasmanian Devils. The young sisters have relocated from a wildlife facility in Tasmania as part of the zoo's Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Programme. They are still waiting on their palawa kani aboriginal names but are expected to help raise awareness and educate people about their species.
Auckland Zoo's lead carnivore keeper Nick Parashchak said: "They are the cutest creature on the planet and I will not have any word said otherwise." Parashchak told Checkpoint the sisters were still settling in to their new environment and zoo visitors would have to be patient for when they would be out and about in the habitat during the day. "It's taken them a while still because the facility in which they came from was non-public so they're still obviously getting used to the sights and sounds and noises that Auckland Zoo and our guests bring.
"It's taken them a little while but they'll get there." Night cameras set up in the enclosure had shown zoo staff that they were climbing high in the trees - a natural behaviour for them as they liked to be high up. Parashchak said Tasmanian Devils have very unique features with big teeth, big ears and "beautiful little noses".
"They've got shorter hind limbs and they have four limbs so they kind of have a rocking motion, almost like a pig." Some people did not even realise Tasmanian Devils were real - thinking of them only as a cartoon character. But Parashchak said they can.