Sniffer dogs and thermal imaging drones are currently being utilized in the ongoing search for a missing Tasmanian devil named Mary on the Gold Coast, now entering its second day.
The two-year-old marsupial escaped from the Paradise Country wildlife park in Oxenford on Tuesday morning, shortly after her arrival at the park last month.
The exact circumstances of her escape remain unknown; however, staff suspect she may have jumped out of the quarantine area.
Officials from the park have combed the perimeter, and the search has since expanded to include assistance from Queensland Police and Wildcare Australia in surrounding regions.
Al Mucci, an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland and an expert in captive animal management, expressed his belief that Mary is likely still in the vicinity.
“There is a significant amount of natural bushland around Paradise Country, allowing her to move up to a kilometer or so,” he noted.
“She might be feeling a bit frightened due to her new surroundings and could have found a hiding spot, possibly near a log or a dog kennel.”
Staff from Paradise Country are actively searching for Mary, the Tasmanian devil who disappeared from the Gold Coast theme park.
Professor Mucci added that these devils are adept climbers.
“The weather has been quite severe over the past month; if branches fall into an enclosure, there is always a chance for a devil to escape,” he explained.
He pointed out that while incidents like Mary’s escape are uncommon, they have occurred before on the Gold Coast.
“Every now and then, a juvenile devil manages to get out of its enclosure, but they have all been located,” he remarked.
Experts say that Tasmanian devils are easily attracted to traps.
Paradise Country reopened on Wednesday morning, with visitors expressing their hopes for the safe return of Mary.
“It’s a delicate situation for her, and I truly hope she gets back safely,” said Elaine Redford, a visitor.
Drone footage has captured the stretch of bushland where Mary is thought to have gone missing from the Paradise Country Wildlife Park.
Tasmanian devils are now extinct on the Australian mainland and are classified as endangered in Tasmania, with fewer than 25,000 individuals remaining in the wild.
While they are typically shy, these animals can exhibit aggression if threatened or approached by humans.
Greg Irons, director of the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Hobart, stated that if Mary is still nearby, she is likely to be found as food traps have been set out.
“Ultimately, devils are quite adaptable, so she should be fine even if she isn’t caught right away,” he said.
“However, they are quite easily lured into traps, especially if food is present. We hope to hear news of Mary’s successful return in the coming days.”
Paradise Country has requested that anyone who may have seen Mary reach out to Wildcare.
The park confirmed that Mary will undergo a thorough veterinary assessment upon her retrieval and return to the facility.
