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<\/p>\nStorm-Displaced Tasmanian Devils Return To Wild<\/p>\n
More than a dozen endangered Tasmanian devils have finally been released back into the wild, after their habitats were destroyed by record-breaking floods, snowstorms and even a rare \u201cbomb cyclone.”<\/p>\n
The rewilding marks a hopeful victory for conservationists in New South Wales, Australia, who have been working for months to care for the devils.<\/p>\n
Their story begins in May 2025, when parts of Australia faced catastrophic flooding from extreme rainfall inundating the region. Entire communities were isolated, pasturelands vanished beneath murky water and even protected national parks were forced to close.<\/p>\n
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By signing up you agree to the Terms<\/a> & Privacy Policy<\/a>. Unsubscribe at any time.<\/p>\n Just two months later, a \u201cbomb cyclone<\/a>\u201d struck eastern Australia, bringing hurricane-force winds and more widespread flooding.<\/p>\n Mother Nature wasn’t finished. August 2025 brought rare, heavy snowfall to New South Wales. Some areas recorded up to 16 inches of snow, their thickest accumulation in decades.<\/p>\n Among those affected by the chaos were fourteen Tasmanian devils living in the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary, a crucial refuge for the species that\u2019s been extinct on mainland Australia for more than 3,000 years. Floodwaters destroyed parts of their habitat, forcing wildlife rangers to capture and relocate the devils for their safety.<\/p>\n (MORE: Small Fish Sparks Hope In Tennessee Town<\/a>)<\/p>\n \u201cWe have 12 males and 2 females,\u201d explained wildlife ranger Laura Chapman, who led the rescue and release effort.<\/p>\n The devils spent months in care as volunteers with Aussie Ark, a wildlife conservation charity, rebuilt the sanctuary and monitored the animals\u2019 health through the region\u2019s turbulent winter. “We weigh them, we give them a body condition score and we give them preventatives to protect them from parasites,” said Chapman.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to get up close and personal to make sure they\u2019re all healthy,” she added. “Then it\u2019s my favorite part, releasing them into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary. It\u2019s always amazing to see this big carnivorous marsupial gallop off into the bush.\u201d<\/p>\n (MORE: Endangered Turtle Makes One Shell Of A Comeback<\/a>)<\/p>\n Despite the devastation of 2025\u2019s extreme weather, Aussie Ark’s volunteers see this moment as proof of nature\u2019s resilience, and of how communities can turn environmental hardship into renewal.<\/p>\n \u201cI love devils,\u201d Chapman said. \u201cThey\u2019re so unique and tough, and they play such an important role in our environment. So it\u2019s great to see these 14 healthy animals disappear into the sanctuary. Such an amazing way to finish what was such a hard year at Aussie Ark.\u201d<\/p>\n You can help Aussie Ark continue their vital work saving the Tasmanian devil by visiting aussieark.org.au<\/a>.<\/p>\n