Scott Ellis July 25, 2012
They're some of the fiercest animals in the world, so ferocious they're in danger of extinction because their habit of attacking each other is spreading disease, but at least two young Tasmanian devils have had to get a helping hand just to survive.
Born 120 days ago at the Devil Ark Tasmanian Devil sanctuary, they've been removed from their mum after she needed treatment for a leg injury and one of the joeys was found to be smaller than usual and not feeding.
"One is 146 grams the other 103 grams,'' said Devil Ark operations manager Tim Faulkner.
"The smallest was found 'off the teat' in the mother's pouch ... they're a little bit too small for hand rearing so our aim is to reattach them to mum's nipple. That's going to be an absolute success story when that happens."
In the meantime that means the two females - the bigger sister was brought along to keep her smaller sibling company - are under Faulkner's watchful eye.
And making their presence known. "Their eyes have only just opened," Faulkner said. "They've got a light layer of velvety fur over their body ... and they're very vocal!"