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One thing we were determined to do on our recent jaunt down to Tasmania was get up close with some of the unique Tasmanian devils, the largest carnivorous marsupials in the world.
We figured the best way to do this would be to attend a tour where we could witness the feeding habits of these carnivores so the two of us started researching weeks before our adventure began.
Devils@Cradle, a Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary located at Cradle Mountain, was identified as the best place to do this and we were more than happy to hand over our $27.50 for an After Dark Feeding Tour that supports their comprehensive conservation program.
After watching a short introductory film about the Tasmanian Devils our guide Chris then talked about DFTD (Devil Facial Tumor Disease), the devastating disease rapidly spreading through the Tasmanian Devil population, and how it has wiped out 50% of devils over the past 10 years.
Unfortunately there is no known diagnostic test, treatment or cure for DFTD and Devils@Cradle is a response to that problem. It breaks our heart to know that these little creatures are now a vulnerable species after being so abundant not that long ago.
After learning all about DFTD, Chris then introduced an adorable 11-month old Tasmanian Devil into the room for everyone to have a quick pat. The fur on a Tasmanian Devil is incredibly soft and this part of the tour made everyone smile.
Once this was done, it was time to head outside for what we were here to see – the feeding of some hungry Tasmanian Devils!
And boy were they hungry…
Chris stepped into the largest enclosure at the sanctuary with a couple of two-year old males as they viciously attacked what appeared to be a kangaroo leg.
It was a spectacular sight to see these two devils devour their nightly meal and it wasn’t long before they had finished.
We’re pleased with how these photos turned out but they can’t really show you exactly what we witnessed so we’ve included the video below of our experience.
As you can see, the Tasmanian Devils are very aggressive when it comes to food. Surprisingly, they were very calm the rest of the time we were at Devils@Cradle.
We also got to see Chris feed the other threatened carnivorous marsupials in the sanctuary, the Spotted-tail Quoll and the Eastern Quoll.
The entire tour lasted for 90 minutes and it was a privilege to see these animals up close and to be able to watch them feed.
We just hope Tasmanian Devils are still around for hundreds of years to come!
Amy & Kieron are an Australian couple sharing their travel adventures from around the world.
19 Comments
Those critters are adorable…until they open their mouths and show all those sharp teeth! Looks like a fun tour.
Annette recently posted..Celebrating a Blogiversary with 10 Blogging Mistakes
They were adorable but did lose some of their cuteness when they started attacking their meals.
I wish we had made it down to Tasmania while we were in Oz! Unfortunately we did not get to see any Tasmanian Devils during our stay
Obviously that means we must return, right?
Tiffany recently posted..Sailing – How to Test the Waters
So many people skip Tasmania on their visits to Oz (including us until now) but we can now highly recommend it to anyone coming to Australia in the future.
And yes, a return definitely is needed!
The look mean!! Those teeth are really scary. Judging by your top pictures, no wonder they have “devil” in their name
Would love to see them though from a safe distance.
Sabrina recently posted..What Do People Eat in China? Sushi and Sashimi
Haha yeah definitely wouldn’t want to be bitten by one of them… we loved being so close but as you say, not too close!
Just seeing this post makes me want to travel back to Australia just to visit Tasmania! I so wish I went as it looks very similar to New Zealand!!
The animals of Australia are so awesome, I just love them all!
Rebecca recently posted..Random Weekend: Book: The Secret Life of Backpackers
Everyone says that Tasmania is a lot like New Zealand – hopefully we’ll be able to confirm or deny that before the end of the year. The Aussie animals are great, they’re all so unique!
OMG I think they’re so cute! I would love to do something like this!!!
Andi recently posted..My Father’s Beautiful Misadventures
We agree! It was a fun tour.
Whoa! First time I see what tasmanian devil looks like! Not gonna lie … I’d be more into a kitten tour. Haha! Glad you had fun though!
Caro recently posted..Free accommodation in France : Do a workstay!
Glad we could introduce you to Tasmanian Devils! Haha. It really wasn’t quite as fierce as the photos make it look… promise.
That’s a cool experience! I would love to see those critters in person.
Scott – QuirkyTravel recently posted..How come you’re not Couchsurfing yet?
All you need to do is get down to Tassie then!
That is SO awesome!! You think they like cuddling?
Susan @ Travel Junke recently posted..Link Roundup – Money & Travel Edition
Haha the one we met was very shy but seemed to like cuddling the guide!
Real Tazzy devils in Tasmania?! And.. they eat kangaroo meat?!!! I didn’t get to see the feeding side of them at the Australian zoo. Thought they looked innocent enough and cute enough until now. Haha.
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted..Funny Road Signs in New Zealand
I think they eat any kind of meat! Haha. Yeah they sure do behave a lot differently when food is introduced!
Did they spin round rapidly?
Ed Rex recently posted..Why my RTW Route?