PREVIEW

Two new adorable additions to an Australian zoo have been revealed.

The conservation organisation Aussie Ark proudly presents Knuckles and Blaze, who are five-month-old Tasmanian devil joeys currently receiving hand-rearing care from Operations Manager Dean Reid.

According to Reid, female devils undergo three oestrus cycles per year, in February, April, and June/July. These joeys are a result of the third oestrus cycle, explaining their small size at this time of the year.

The mother of these joeys was young and inexperienced, struggling to care for her four joeys, which is the maximum number a devil can carry in her pouch. To ensure the survival of all four joeys, it was decided to hand-raise two of them while leaving the other two with their mother. This decision has proven successful, as both pairs of joeys are now thriving.

Reid expressed his enjoyment of being a parent to these two joeys, as they require four bottle-feedings every 24 hours. He also mentioned that they will remain under his care until they are weaned and fully independent. Afterwards, they will begin their lives at the Ark in the Barrington Tops, where they will join the world-renowned breeding and rewilding program aimed at securing the future of their species.

Reid chose the names Knuckles and Blaze for the joeys, with Knuckles being inspired by a famous character from Sonic the Hedgehog and Blaze named for his distinctive white stripe of fur on his rump.