Watch: Tasmanian devils Vegemite and Toast raised at Australian Reptile Park before return to Barrington Tops Aussie Ark home

After a tough start in life, two tiny little Tasmanian devil sisters dubbed Vegemite and Toast were painstakingly hand-raised. Check out their amazing transformation.

After a tough start in life at pioneering Aussie Ark on the Mid-North Coast, two little Tasmanian devils were taken into care and painstakingly hand-raised.

Now, the sisters, known as Vegemite and Toast, have been returned to their special mountain home in the Barrington Tops, where experts are fighting to save the Tasmanian devil from extinction.

The Devil Ark – now known at the Aussie Ark to reflect its expanded role in protecting other species – was established in the rugged mountain range west of Gloucester in 2011 to try to save the species from extinction due to devastating Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

Vegemite and Toast were born to a very small, young mother at the ark.

Lauren Hunter with devil juveniles prior to their return to Aussie Ark.

Lauren Hunter hand-raising Vegemite and Toast. When they first came into care they weighed around 250 grams.

She had a full pouch of four joeys and due to her age and size, staff monitored her closely.

But she was struggling and there were concerns not all of the joeys would survive.

So the difficult decision was made to remove the sisters, leaving the young mum with two other little ones to care for.

They were taken to the Aussie Ark’s partner facility, the Australian Reptile Park on the Central Coast, where they were hand-raised by birds and mammals’ keeper Lauren Hunter.

“I raised these girls for about five months at home,” Ms Hunter said.

“When I first got them they were around 250 grams. And now they’re around six kilos.”

Because of Ms Hunter’s deep bond with the devils, she was the only keeper able to visit and cuddle them right up until their return to Aussie Ark.

Adam Mowbray and Lauren Hunter with one of the devil juveniles.

It was bittersweet when she helped Aussie Ark wildlife ranger Adam Mowbray to health check the pair before they started their drive back to the Ark.

“These two Devils have been earmarked for their great genetics and that is the baseline for our world renowned Tasmanian devil breeding program,” Mr Mowbray explained.

Vegemite and Toast, who were on display at the reptile park prior to their return to the Barrington Tops, will now trade their life in the spotlight to join a large enclosure with two other females and four male devils ahead of this year’s breeding season, which begins next month.

Ms Hunter said it was sad to say goodbye but the beloved joeys have returned to where they were born to play their role in saving their species.

“Up at Aussie Ark they’re going to have an amazing life,” Ms Hunter said.

“It’s the closest thing they’ll get to having a wild life … and I’m hoping I’ll see them with babies in the future.”

For those who missed seeing Vegemite and Toast at the Australian Reptile Park, there’s a chance to catch sight of them – and have close encounters with other young devils – during Aussie Ark’s Open Days until the end of January.