FOUR Tasmanian Devil joeys have been born during the 2014 breeding season at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The joeys, one male and three females, were born in March 2014 and are the first offspring for mother, Moretti.
"Moretti is a very protective mother and we are really pleased with how she is caring for and nurturing her offspring," keeper Denyell Woodhouse said.
"Every birth in the Tasmanian Devil breeding program is important. The Devil Facial Tumour Disease is continuing to destroy wild populations, with up to a 90p per cent decline in some wild populations since the discovery of the disease in 1996."
This recent birth brings the total number of Tasmanian Devils born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo to 22 since the program commenced in 2008.
"The joeys will stay with their mother until approximately 12 months of age, before they will be weaned and become independent,
"It is hoped that in the future these four joeys will play an important role in the breeding program once fully matured, continuing to create greater genetic diversity in the insurance population," Denyell said.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo is part of a national insurance population program designed to help save the Tasmanian Devil from becoming extinct as a result of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo has two breeding facilities for the Tasmanian Devil located behind the scenes.
VIDEO: The Tasmanian Devil joeys make their first forays around their new home: