Devils advocate: Sisters on an important overseas mission christened in palawa kani

The two Tasmanian devil sisters sent to a New Zealand zoo have finally been christened. What names palawa children chose for the devil ambassadors.

Tasmanian devil sisters at Auckland Zoo given palawa kani names wiri and wayana. Picture: supplied Auckland Zoo

The two Tasmanian devil sisters on an important overseas mission have now been christened.

Palawa children chose the names for the purinina (Tasmanian devil) sisters who are now residing at Auckland Zoo in New Zealand.

Children picked the names ‘wiri’ which means starfish, and ‘wayana’ which means shark.

Wiri and Wayana join male Nita at the zoo.

Palawa children (up to 11 years) from the Aboriginal Children Centre in Nipaluna/Hobart and children from the Northern Tasmanian Aboriginal Child Care Association chose a selection of names relating to sea creatures, using rina/shells as tokens to vote for their favourite names.

palawa children from the Aboriginal Children Centre pick names of devils. Picture: supplied TAC

“Sharing their drawings with us, they explained that they saw wiri/starfish as “outgoing and mischievous”, and liked wayana/shark for a purinina, because both species have sharp teeth,” Auckland Zoo posted to Facebook.

Auckland Zoo lead carnivore keeper Nick Parashchak said the two-year-old sisters are gradually venturing out in the day.

“As a non-breeding group, male Nita and the females are in separate areas but have the positive stimulation of being relatively close and can see, smell and communicate with each other.

“While currently it’s Nita who our visitors will more reliably see, Wiri and Wayana are now gradually venturing out in the day,” he said.

Wiri is distinguished by the white stripe on her chest. Picture: supplied Auckland Zoo

Wiri and wayana arrived at the zoo on September 4. They bring the total international population of Tasmanian devils to 54.

The 54 devils are a part of the Tasmanian devil ambassador program, which was established in 2013 and involves zoos from New Zealand, Japan, Europe, Singapore and the United States.