Full Breakdown
Tasmanian Devil Mary Escapes Paradise Country, Search Ongoing
6/4/2026, 10:58:15 PM
Escape and Immediate Response
On Tuesday morning, a two-year-old female Tasmanian devil named Mary vanished from her quarantine enclosure at Paradise Country wildlife park in Oxenford, Queensland’s Gold Coast. CCTV captured her sprinting across the grounds at about 4 a.m., hours before staff noticed the breach. Curator Lauren Mousley called the incident “a bit of a mystery” and suggested an “abnormally large leap” may have enabled the escape.
Search Operations
A dozen wildlife specialists, a sniffer dog and a thermal-imaging drone were deployed overnight. University of Queensland adjunct professor Al Mucci estimated Mary could be within a kilometre, noting the surrounding bushland offers “a lot of natural bush land area.” Queensland Police, Wildcare Australia and park staff placed baited traps and continued thermal sweeps into Thursday, the third day, without a confirmed sighting.
Official Statements & Responses
Paradise Country, operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks, said its priority is to relocate Mary and continue the search, adding that additional resources are being mobilised. The park urged the public not to approach the animal, citing its powerful bite, and noted no structural damage to the enclosure. Wildcare’s hotline (07 5527 2444) was publicised for sightings.
Criticism & Opposition
Conservation biologists warned that an escaped devil could become roadkill or fall prey to dogs, stating “I’d be concerned about dogs attacking her as well, but certainly her being killed by a car would be the most deadly threat.” Emeritus Prof Hamish McCallum argued that re-introducing devils to mainland Australia would need careful site selection, naming Wilsons Promontory as a safer option.
Data & Statistics
Tasmanian devils are the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial and are listed as endangered. Fewer than 25,000 individuals remain in the wild in Tasmania, and the species has been extinct on the Australian mainland for over 3,000 years. In captivity they can travel up to 10 miles a night and weigh up to 30 pounds.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Park officials have found no physical breach in the enclosure, while Mousley’s “large leap” hypothesis remains unverified. No forensic analysis of the fence or surrounding area has been released, leaving the exact escape mechanism uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our priority remains on relocating Mary to ensure her welfare, and we will continue to search today and into this evening,” — Paradise Country wildlife park statement
- “We do think that an abnormally large leap has happened,” — Lauren Mousley, curator, Paradise Country
- “Devils can be reactive if provoked or if anyone attempts to catch them,” — Lauren Mousley
- “At the end of the day devils are very adaptive, so the devil will probably be fine even if not caught,” — Greg Irons, director, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
What’s Next
Search teams will maintain thermal-drone sweeps and expand baited-trap placement through the weekend. Wildcare monitors public reports, and Paradise Country plans a post-incident review of quarantine enclosure design.
