Tasmanian devil named Mary escapes Gold Coast wildlife park; search underway
Consensus Summary
A Tasmanian devil named Mary escaped from Paradise Country wildlife park on Queensland’s Gold Coast on June 3, 2026, after being spotted on CCTV at 4 AM. The two-year-old female, who arrived from New South Wales, is believed to have leapt out of her quarantine enclosure, though the exact method remains unclear. Search efforts involving drones, sniffer dogs, and authorities like Queensland Police and Wildcare Australia are underway, with the park’s perimeter thoroughly checked. Mary is described as shy but reactive if provoked, and the public has been warned not to approach her. Experts suggest she may still be nearby, possibly hiding in nearby bushland, and express confidence she will be found soon. The incident has also reignited discussions about the broader conservation potential of reintroducing Tasmanian devils to mainland Australia, though one escaped individual poses no significant ecological risk. Mary’s companion, Mavka, remains safely in the park.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A Tasmanian devil named Mary escaped from Paradise Country wildlife park on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Tuesday, June 3, 2026, at around 4 AM.
- Mary is a two-year-old female Tasmanian devil who arrived at Paradise Country from a zoological facility in New South Wales.
- Mary was last seen on CCTV footage skulking around deserted grounds before disappearing from frame.
- The park’s perimeter has been searched, and authorities including Queensland Police, Wildcare Australia, and drone operators with thermal imaging are assisting in the search.
- Mary is described as shy and reactive if provoked, and the public is warned not to approach her.
- Paradise Country is operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks, which also runs other Gold Coast theme parks.
- Mary’s companion, another Tasmanian devil named Mavka, remains in the park.
- Mary’s escape is believed to have occurred due to an abnormally large leap, though the exact method remains unclear.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Mary’s escape was caught on camera at 4 AM on Tuesday, June 3, 2026, with staff discovering her absence at 7:30 AM.
- Lauren Mousley, curator of animals at Paradise Country, stated Mary’s behavior is ‘very, very abnormal’ given her normally shy demeanor.
- Emeritus Prof Hamish McCallum warned Mary could face risks from roadkill or dog attacks if she remains outside the park.
- McCallum discussed the broader conservation debate about reintroducing Tasmanian devils to mainland Australia, citing Wilsons Promontory as a potential site.
- Mary is described as a ‘sub-adult female’ in the Guardian’s reporting.
- The Guardian mentions that Mary and Mavka arrived at the park ‘not long ago’ from New South Wales.
- The ABC reports the park was closed as a precaution while the search expanded, and it reopened on Wednesday morning.
- Al Mucci, a University of Queensland adjunct professor, suggested Mary could be within a kilometer of the park, possibly hiding in bushland or near a log/dog kennel.
- Mucci noted that escapes of juvenile devils have happened before on the Gold Coast but all were found.
- Greg Irons, director of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, stated devils are adaptive and easy to trap with food, expressing confidence Mary will be found soon.
- The ABC mentions that Mary’s enclosure had access to a small outdoor area, but there was no evidence of structural damage.
- The ABC highlights that Tasmanian devils are extinct on the mainland and endangered in Tasmania, with fewer than 25,000 remaining in the wild.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states Mary’s escape was a ‘daring early morning dash,’ while the ABC describes it as an incident noticed during a routine morning check without emphasizing the timing as ‘daring.’
- The Guardian attributes the escape method to an ‘abnormally large leap,’ while the ABC does not explicitly confirm this cause, only stating it is unclear how she broke out.
- The Guardian mentions Mary’s age as ‘two’ without specifying ‘sub-adult,’ while the ABC does not explicitly state her age beyond ‘two-year-old.’
- The Guardian quotes Lauren Mousley as saying staff were ‘shocked’ and ‘couldn’t believe it was Mary,’ while the ABC does not include this direct quote.
Source Articles
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