Late on June 16, 2026, wildlife teams swept the dark bushland near Australia’s Gold Coast with thermal drones. Moments later, they spotted her: Mary, a missing Tasmanian devil who had vanished nearly two weeks earlier.
A small female Tasmanian devil, just two years old, vanished from Paradise Country Wildlife Park in Oxenford early on June 2 around four in the morning. Workers think she jumped unusually high, clearing a barrier that stood 1.4 meters tall inside her isolation area. Video shows her walking quietly across empty paths at the site until she disappeared from view. Nothing was broken. There were no marks suggesting she pushed or clawed her way out.
Mary, a relatively recent arrival at the park along with another young devil named Mavka as part of conservation efforts, survived nearly two weeks in unfamiliar subtropical bushland and suburban edges far from her species’ native Tasmanian habitat. She was found in bushland off Kopps Road, less than 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles) from the park, in critical or unstable condition. She was rushed to a specialist veterinary hospital, where her condition has since stabilized.
A kangaroo carcass and a wallaby were found nearby, hinting she’d eaten well during her escape. Even raised in captivity, this meat-eating marsupial still hunted scraps when free.
Midnight searches unfolded under cold stars, led by ten or more trackers from Paradise Country who moved quietly through scrubland. Dogs strained at leashes, noses twitching toward hidden scents while heat-sensitive drones swept tree lines above. Clues surfaced one morning when someone found dark droppings near a storm drain thick with bone fragments. A backyard camera, pointed at bird feeders miles away, had caught flickering motion just past 3 am: low shape slipping between fences. Locals phoned in odd glimpses a blur crossing lawns, eyes catching porch lights. Computer maps updated hourly, feeding coordinates shaped by animal patterns and wind direction. Each fragment tightened the circle without fanfare.
A Paradise Country spokesperson said,
“Upon finding her, Mary was in an unstable condition, and the team assessed and determined she required veterinary care.”
They added that specialists “were able to stabilize her condition.”
Now only living in Tasmania, these animals used to roam all over mainland Australia. The biggest meat-eating marsupials alive today, their existence is under pressure. A strange form of cancer spreads between them, hitting populations hard. On top of that, places where they once lived have changed too much. Programs working quietly behind the scenes aim to keep different family lines strong. One such effort runs at Paradise Country, within a larger group of theme parks. Like what scientists do with red wolves or California condors far away, work here prepares for possible returns to the wild. Saving variety in their genes matters just as much as counting heads.
Survival like Mary’s shows how tough the species can be especially when placed somewhere strange, far from home. A quiet creature kept apart still finds a way through.
A DPI representative said she’s still facing challenges even though the treatment she gets stands out for its quality, while doctors continue running checks. Recovery looks likely according to those who manage the park, with plans down the line for her comeback to Paradise Country where Mavka awaits.
Finding her took place near Kopps Road, just under two kilometers away from the park. Village Roadshow made it clear – she’d been spotted deep in the bush nearby.
Out there, a blurry photo might look real yet it pulls help away from animals in actual trouble. When something spreads fast online, crews could waste time chasing fakes instead of aiding hurt wildlife. Even if a clip seems convincing, passing it along without checking creates confusion. Authorities prefer clear reports through Wildcare (07 5527 2444), not reshared guesses. A moment spent verifying beats hours lost on false leads.
Mary’s story is a feel-good reminder of endangered species’ toughness and the dedication of wildlife teams. Updates on her full recovery will continue to emerge from official park and veterinary sources.
