Uploaded October 2018 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Tasmania Devil Feeding Time @ Wings Wildlife Park
Our visit to Wings Wildlife Park in Gunns Plains, TAS included a Tasmanian Devil feeding demonstration. Special thanks to all of the animal handlers for their presentations and for taking care of all the critters there. For more info on this wildlife park, visit:
https://wingswildlifepark.com.au/
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) got its name from early European settlers who upon hearing mysterious unearthly screams, coughs and growls from the bush decided to investigate further. Finding the dog-like animal with red ears, wide jaws and big sharp teeth led them to call it "The Devil".
However the famous gape or yawn of the Tasmanian devil that looks so threatening, can be misleading. This display is performed more from fear and uncertainty than from aggression. Although they do have an impressive and frighting screech!
Aboriginal people also had several names for them, one of which is “purinina”.
Description
The world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, the devil has a thick-set, squat build, with a relatively large, broad head and short, thick tail. The fur is mostly or wholly black, but white markings often occur on the rump and chest. Body size also varies greatly, depending on the diet and habitat. Adult males are usually larger than adult females. Large males weigh up to 12 kg, and stand about 30 cm high at the shoulder. In the wild Tasmanian devils live up to six years.
History
Devils once occurred on mainland Australia, with fossils having been found widely. But it is believed the devil became extinct on the mainland some 3,000 years ago - before European settlement. Devils probably became extinct there due to increasing aridity and the spread of the dingo, which was prevented by Bass Strait from entering Tasmania.
Today the devil is a Tasmanian icon but this hasn't always been the case. Tasmanian devils were considered a nuisance by early European settlers of Hobart Town, who complained of raids on poultry yards. In 1830 the Van Diemen's Land Co. introduced a bounty scheme to remove devils, as well as Tasmanian tigers and wild dogs, from their northwest properties: 2/6 (25 cents) for male devils and 3/6 (35 cents) for females.
For more than a century, devils were trapped and poisoned. They became very rare, seemingly headed for extinction. But the population gradually increased after they were protected by law in June 1941.During 1996 it became evident that Tasmanian devils were again under threat – this time from the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).
Distribution
Anecdotal evidence suggests that devil numbers were quite variable over the past century, but were at historic highs about 10 years ago. They were particularly common in forest, woodland and agricultural areas of northern, eastern and central Tasmania.
These numbers have dropped since the 1996 identification of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) - a fatal condition in Tasmanian devils, characterised by cancers around the mouth and head.
There has been a 64 per cent decline in spotlighting sightings since the disease emerged. In the north-east of the State, where signs of the Tasmanian devil disease were first reported, there has been a 95 per cent decline (approximately) of average spotlighting sightings from 1993-95 to 2002-05.
Habitat
Despite the decline in numbers since the early 1990s, populations of Tasmanian devils remain widespread in Tasmania from the coast to the mountains. They live in coastal heath, open dry sclerophyll forest, and mixed sclerophyll-rainforest – Devils also take advantage of the interface between native habitat and agricultural paddocks, where their favourite prey species are often found.
Diet
The Tasmanian devil is mainly a scavenger and a hunter feeding on whatever is available. Powerful jaws and teeth enable it to completely devour its prey - bones, fur and all. Native animals such as wallabies, possums and wombats are favourites and various small mammals and birds, are eaten - either as carrion or prey.
Reptiles, amphibians, insects and even sea squirts have been found in the stomachs of wild devils. Carcasses of sheep and cattle provide food in farming areas. Tasmanian devils maintain bush and farm hygiene by cleaning up carcasses. This can help reduce the risk of blowfly strike to sheep by removing food for maggots.
For more info visit this link:
https://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=387
Tasmania Devil Feeding Time @ Wings Wildlife Park
Our visit to Wings Wildlife Park in Gunns Plains, TAS included a Tasmanian Devil feeding demonstration. Special thanks to all of the animal handlers for their presentations and for taking care of all the critters there. For more info on this wildlife park, visit:
https://wingswildlifepark.com.au/
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) got its name from early European settlers who upon hearing mysterious unearthly screams, coughs and growls from the bush decided to investigate further. Finding the dog-like animal with red ears, wide jaws and big sharp teeth led them to call it "The Devil".
However the famous gape or yawn of the Tasmanian devil that looks so threatening, can be misleading. This display is performed more from fear and uncertainty than from aggression. Although they do have an impressive and frighting screech!
Aboriginal people also had several names for them, one of which is “purinina”.
Description
The world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, the devil has a thick-set, squat build, with a relatively large, broad head and short, thick tail. The fur is mostly or wholly black, but white markings often occur on the rump and chest. Body size also varies greatly, depending on the diet and habitat. Adult males are usually larger than adult females. Large males weigh up to 12 kg, and stand about 30 cm high at the shoulder. In the wild Tasmanian devils live up to six years.
History
Devils once occurred on mainland Australia, with fossils having been found widely. But it is believed the devil became extinct on the mainland some 3,000 years ago - before European settlement. Devils probably became extinct there due to increasing aridity and the spread of the dingo, which was prevented by Bass Strait from entering Tasmania.
Today the devil is a Tasmanian icon but this hasn't always been the case. Tasmanian devils were considered a nuisance by early European settlers of Hobart Town, who complained of raids on poultry yards. In 1830 the Van Diemen's Land Co. introduced a bounty scheme to remove devils, as well as Tasmanian tigers and wild dogs, from their northwest properties: 2/6 (25 cents) for male devils and 3/6 (35 cents) for females.
For more than a century, devils were trapped and poisoned. They became very rare, seemingly headed for extinction. But the population gradually increased after they were protected by law in June 1941.During 1996 it became evident that Tasmanian devils were again under threat – this time from the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).
Distribution
Anecdotal evidence suggests that devil numbers were quite variable over the past century, but were at historic highs about 10 years ago. They were particularly common in forest, woodland and agricultural areas of northern, eastern and central Tasmania.
These numbers have dropped since the 1996 identification of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) - a fatal condition in Tasmanian devils, characterised by cancers around the mouth and head.
There has been a 64 per cent decline in spotlighting sightings since the disease emerged. In the north-east of the State, where signs of the Tasmanian devil disease were first reported, there has been a 95 per cent decline (approximately) of average spotlighting sightings from 1993-95 to 2002-05.
Habitat
Despite the decline in numbers since the early 1990s, populations of Tasmanian devils remain widespread in Tasmania from the coast to the mountains. They live in coastal heath, open dry sclerophyll forest, and mixed sclerophyll-rainforest – Devils also take advantage of the interface between native habitat and agricultural paddocks, where their favourite prey species are often found.
Diet
The Tasmanian devil is mainly a scavenger and a hunter feeding on whatever is available. Powerful jaws and teeth enable it to completely devour its prey - bones, fur and all. Native animals such as wallabies, possums and wombats are favourites and various small mammals and birds, are eaten - either as carrion or prey.
Reptiles, amphibians, insects and even sea squirts have been found in the stomachs of wild devils. Carcasses of sheep and cattle provide food in farming areas. Tasmanian devils maintain bush and farm hygiene by cleaning up carcasses. This can help reduce the risk of blowfly strike to sheep by removing food for maggots.
For more info visit this link:
https://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=387
