A Tasmanian devil named Mary has been found in an “unstable condition” more than two weeks after escaping from her enclosure at an Australian wildlife park, officials said.
The two-year-old marsupial was located in bushland less than two kilometres from Paradise Country park on Queensland’s Gold Coast after an extensive search operation lasting several days.
Park authorities said Mary was discovered in a weakened state and was immediately assessed by staff before being rushed to a specialist veterinary hospital for urgent treatment and stabilisation.
Her escape on 2 June had triggered a major search effort involving wildlife experts, a sniffer dog team, and thermal-imaging drone support after she reportedly managed an unusually long leap out of her enclosure.
Officials believe the shy animal survived for 15 days in the wild, despite being found in poor condition upon recovery.
Veterinary teams are now carrying out further diagnostic tests while she remains under close observation at the hospital.
The park said the Tasmanian devil may have travelled further than expected during her time outside the enclosure, noting the species is capable of covering significant distances during nocturnal movement.
Tasmanian devils, which are now endangered on mainland Australia due to disease and habitat threats, are known for their agility and strong survival instincts in the wild.
