East Coast Natureworld welcome two baby Tasmanian devils

These youngsters are devilish by name and nature and have already stolen the hearts of their carers at Tasmanian wildlife refuge. SEE THE VIDEO>>>

These youngsters are devilish by name and nature.

The baby Tasmanian devils born recently at an East Coast wildlife refuge also hold the key to ensuring their future survival.

Bicheno’s East Coast Natureworld wildlife manager Nat Hill said the sanctuary had been contributing to the conservation of the Tasmanian devil since 2013 and 19 joeys had recently been born to six mothers.

She said while they were not part of the conservation program they were “ambassador species”.

“When they are born they are only as big as a grain of rice and a mother can carry up to 30 or 40 devils but they usually fight to grab a teat so they don’t all make it,” Mr Hill said.

“I call them my soft toys because they are just getting their teeth and are so playful as they wrestle with each other.

Nat Hill with devil joeys. Joey Tasmanian devils born at East Coast Natureworld. Picture: East Coast Natureworld

“We are firm believers in doing all we can to encourage people to meet the devils and ensure they survive.

“A lot of people come to Tasmania to see a devil and they are pretty hard to see in the wild.”

Of the new arrivals, four are being raised by hand, while the remainder are with their mothers.

With national threatened species day on Tuesday Ms Hill will take two of the joeys to Bicheno Primary School to show students.

Joey Tasmanian devils born at East Coast Natureworld. Picture: East Coast Natureworld

“It is a good time to educate people about the devils because we don’t want them to go the way of the thylacine,” Ms Hill said.

The East Coast Natureworld gives visitors the chance to watch the devils being fed in their natural habitat and to learn about the cancer causing a decline in their numbers, and what’s being done to help save them.

They also offer a devils in the dark tour and in coming weeks a limited number of people will have the chance to meet the joeys.

Ms Hill, who has 20 years’ experience with wildlife, stressed the focus was always on the devil’s wellbeing.