Missing Tasmanian devil 'Mary' escapes Gold Coast wildlife park, search underway
Consensus Summary
A two-year-old Tasmanian devil named Mary escaped from Paradise Country wildlife park in Oxenford, Gold Coast, on June 2, 2026, after breaching her enclosure with an abnormally large leap. The park, operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks, closed temporarily to allow a search involving sniffer dogs, thermal imaging drones, and a team of nearly 20 people, including Queensland Police and Wildcare Australia. Mary was spotted on CCTV about 2 kilometers from the park on June 8, 2026, after being missing for a week, and the search area was narrowed to Saltwater Creek Reserve. Experts, including University of Queensland’s Al Mucci and Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary’s Greg Irons, expressed confidence in Mary’s survival due to her adaptability and the availability of food and water, though they warned of threats from humans, dogs, and vehicles. The public was advised not to approach Mary, as devils can be aggressive if provoked. While the exact method of her escape remains unclear, sources agree it was an unusual event for an animal described as shy. The incident has also reignited discussions about the potential reintroduction of Tasmanian devils to the mainland, though experts emphasized that Mary’s escape is not representative of a controlled conservation effort.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Mary, a two-year-old Tasmanian devil, escaped from Paradise Country wildlife park in Oxenford, Gold Coast, on June 2, 2026, during a routine morning check.
- Mary was one of two recently arrived Tasmanian devils at Paradise Country, which is operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks.
- The park was closed as a precaution on June 2, 2026, to allow for an expanded search, including security footage review and thermal imaging equipment use.
- Mary is described as shy but capable of aggressive behavior if provoked, and the public was warned not to approach her.
- Mary was spotted on a suburban Gold Coast CCTV system about 2 kilometers from the park on June 8, 2026, after being missing for a week.
- Mary breached her enclosure by making an 'abnormally large leap,' according to Paradise Country staff.
- The search involved sniffer dogs, thermal imaging drones, and a team of nearly 20 people, including Queensland Police and Wildcare Australia.
- Tasmanian devils are extinct on the mainland and endangered in Tasmania, with fewer than 25,000 remaining in the wild.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Mary arrived at Paradise Country last month (implied by timeline in Article 2).
- Mary was one of two recent arrivals, with the other named Mavka.
- Mary was described as a young marsupial in Article 1, with no specific age given until Article 2 confirmed her age as two years old.
- University of Queensland adjunct professor Al Mucci stated Mary could move up to a kilometer or so from the park and might be hiding near logs or dog kennels.
- Greg Irons, director of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, said Mary would likely be found if she was still in the vicinity due to food traps and her adaptability.
- Devil droppings and remnants of kangaroo and wallaby carcasses were found in the surrounding bushlands.
- Mary was spotted on a home security camera system about 2 kilometers from the park on June 8, 2026, and the search area was narrowed to Saltwater Creek Reserve.
- Mary’s escape was described as rare but not unprecedented on the Gold Coast, with similar incidents involving juvenile devils.
- Mary’s companion, Mavka, was not mentioned as missing or involved in the escape.
- Mary’s escape was caught on CCTV cameras at 4 AM on June 2, 2026, showing her skulking around deserted grounds before disappearing.
- Paradise Country curator of animals, Lauren Mousley, stated Mary’s escape was 'very, very abnormal' given her shy demeanor.
- Mousley warned that devils can be reactive if provoked and urged the public to call Wildcare if they spotted Mary.
- Emeritus Prof Hamish McCallum expressed concern about Mary’s survival due to potential threats from dogs, vehicles, and starvation, given the lower mammal density in south-east Queensland.
- McCallum discussed the broader conservation debate about reintroducing Tasmanian devils to the mainland, specifically mentioning Wilsons Promontory National Park as a potential site.
- Mary’s escape was described as a 'Houdini' act, emphasizing the daring nature of the breach.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 states Mary was missing from a secure indoor habitat with access to a small outdoor area, while Article 4 (Guardian) describes her escape as occurring from quarantine in the early hours of June 2, 2026, with CCTV showing her skulking around deserted grounds before disappearing.
- Article 1 claims there was no evidence of damage or structural issues allowing Mary to escape, while Article 4 (Guardian) suggests the escape remains 'a bit of a mystery' and implies an 'abnormally large leap' was the likely method.
- Article 2 (ABC) states Mary arrived at the facility last month, while Article 4 (Guardian) implies she was recently arrived from a zoological facility in New South Wales without specifying the exact timeframe.
Source Articles
Search for Tasmanian devil 'Mary' missing from popular Gold Coast wildlife park
The recently arrived young devil has been kept in a secure indoor facility while quarantining, but was noticed missing on Tuesday morning.
No sign of missing Tasmanian devil Mary but experts confident she will survive
Sniffer dogs and thermal imaging drones are being deployed as the search for a missing Tasmanian devil on the Gold Coast goes into a second day.
Escaped devil spotted on suburban Gold Coast CCTV after week on loose
A two-year-old Tasmanian devil has been on the loose since last Tuesday when she leapt out of her enclosure at a Gold Coast wildlife park.
Where the devil is Mary? Search under way after Tasmanian marsupial escapes Gold Coast wildlife park
CCTV cameras caught the carnivorous marsupial skulking around deserted grounds at 4am Tuesday morning Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A search is under way on Queensland’s Gold Coast for a missing Tasmanian devil who escaped her enclosure in a daring early morning dash caught on camera. The devil, named Mary, did a Houdini from the Paradise Country theme park, escaping from quarantine in the early hours of Tuesda