"Mary" the Tasmanian Devil Recaptured After 14-Day Escape
A two-year-old Tasmanian devil named Mary, who escaped from Paradise Country wildlife park on the Gold Coast on June 2, 2025, was recaptured on June 16, 2025, in bushland near Kopps Road, Oxenford. She was found in an unstable condition and rushed to a specialist veterinary hospital, where her condition has since been stabilized. She remains under veterinary care for ongoing diagnostic testing.
The Escape
Mary escaped from a secure indoor quarantine habitat that included access to a small outdoor area. Park staff reported that she likely breached the enclosure by making an "abnormally large leap" over a 1.4-meter fence. CCTV footage captured Mary moving around the park grounds at 4:00 AM on the day of her escape before disappearing from view. No evidence of damage or structural issues that would otherwise allow escape was found.
Search and Discovery
The search effort involved over a dozen staff and specialists, sniffer dogs, thermal drone technology, and security footage analysis.
- A home security camera captured Mary approximately two kilometers from the park on Sunday, June 8, helping to narrow the search area.
- Searchers found evidence of kangaroo and wallaby carcasses and devil droppings in surrounding bushlands, including an area backing onto Saltwater Creek Reserve.
- Humane traps were placed in the search area.
Mary was ultimately located on Tuesday night, June 16, in bushland off Kopps Road, less than two kilometers from the park. The search relied on CCTV sightings and geographical projection modeling. The area within two kilometers of the park includes pockets of bushland surrounded by housing estates, connected by creeks to larger forests.
Background
Mary is a two-year-old Tasmanian devil. She had arrived at Paradise Country from a zoological facility in New South Wales, along with another devil named Mavka. The species is endangered and not native to mainland Australia, having been extirpated from the mainland between 500 and 5,000 years ago. Some conservationists advocate for reintroduction of the species to mainland Australia.
Veterinary Response
Upon discovery, Mary was assessed as being in an unstable condition. She was transported to a specialist veterinary hospital where her condition was stabilized. She remains under veterinary care for further diagnostic testing.
Public Advisory
The public was previously advised not to approach Mary, as Tasmanian devils can be reactive if provoked. Sightings were to be reported to Wildcare at 07 5527 2444. With the recapture, the public is no longer advised to be on alert.
Statements from Officials
Paradise Country stated: "Upon finding her, Mary was in an unstable condition, and the team assessed and determined she required veterinary care and rushed her to a specialist veterinary hospital where they were able to stabilise her condition."
Paradise Country curator Lauren Mousley described Mary as typically shy, and noted that the escape was "very, very abnormal, given her demeanour." She added that two-year-old devils can be more adventurous.
Adjunct associate professor Al Nucci (University of Queensland) stated: "In a captive environment, Mary gets treated like a princess. ... Then going to nothing is a complete two different ordeals." He noted key threats during her escape were car strike and dog attack, and commented on the species' resilience.
Professor Hamish McCallum, a Tasmanian devil expert, commented that Mary could survive in bushland but noted food availability is lower than in Tasmania. He expressed support for the idea of reintroducing devils to the mainland but stated that a single escaped animal in southeast Queensland is not an appropriate method.