Eight Tasmanian devils find new homes in the USA (3/6/2024)

Eight Tasmanian devils have been sent to the United States as ambassadors for their species. Video by Aaron Smith (3/6/2024)

Transcript

00:00We're happy to be one of those seven zoos in the United States that have devils.

00:04So we'll receive all eight and only two were actually allocated to stay in Toledo.

00:08The rest will go to other zoos, Columbus, Fort Wayne, St. Louis, I believe.

00:13One of the greatest parts about my job is educating people on just amazing animals.

00:18Tasmanian devils are such a great example of amazing animals that some people don't know

00:25even exist. It's really funny when you do talk to somebody who might not know that

00:28that was a real animal. And we pride ourselves on telling the story. Not only is it a real

00:33animal, it's one of the most tenacious, endearing, charismatic animals you could ever imagine.

00:39And they're adorable. People love devils. So we love telling that story. It's been a really great

00:44collaboration. And like I said, we know there's not many of us facilities that get this honor,

00:51and we're happy to be one. And I think we tell the story better than anyone.

00:56We've chosen our partner zoos very carefully. So Toledo Zoo, for example, have a climate very

01:00similar to ours. And we like to maintain that level of consistency because it provides good

01:06welfare outcomes for the Tasmanian devils. Straight after this one, I'll be launching

01:10into an export to Auckland. Auckland Zoo have been longstanding partners of ours who, again,

01:16have a very similar climate. So it works really well. Then we're moving on to West Coast USA

01:21and to Prague. So the need is ongoing, and there'll be a lot more work ahead.