Missing Tasmanian devil Mary captured on CCTV escaping from Gold Coast wildlife park
A young Tasmanian devil named Mary escaped her quarantine enclosure at a Gold Coast wildlife park and was caught on CCTV. Staff are searching with drones and warn the public not to approach her.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Mary, a two-year-old Tasmanian devil newly arrived from New South Wales, slipped out of her enclosure at Paradise Country in the early hours of Tuesday. Park staff and wildlife crews are still searching, while experts warn that the biggest danger may be cars, dogs, or people trying to catch her.
A little Tasmanian devil named Mary slipped out of her pen at a zoo park and was caught on camera wandering around at night. The people there are trying to find her, like looking for a tiny, shy pet that ran off into the dark.
Analysis
What happened
CCTV at Paradise Country on the Gold Coast captured a Tasmanian devil named Mary moving around the park grounds at about 4am on Tuesday before disappearing from view. The park later discovered she had escaped from quarantine, and by Wednesday afternoon she had still not been found.
How the search is unfolding
Paradise Country says its wildlife team has searched the perimeter and that a drone operator with thermal imaging has also been involved. The park has told the public not to approach Mary if she is seen, and to call Wildcare instead. Staff say they are still unsure exactly how she got out, though they suspect she may have made an unusually large jump to get beyond her quarantine area.
Why the devil matters
Mary and another devil, Mavka, had only recently arrived from a zoological facility in New South Wales. Staff described Mary as shy, but also said devils can become more adventurous as they get older. An expert quoted in the article says devils are active hunters, not just scavengers, and could pose a risk to small animals such as possums.
The article also links the escape to larger conservation ideas. Some people want Tasmanian devils reintroduced to mainland Australia to help control feral cats and foxes, but the experts quoted here argue that one escaped animal is not a sensible way to do that. The main concern, they say, is that Mary could be hit by a car or attacked by dogs if she gets beyond the park grounds.
Broader context
The piece frames Mary’s escape as both a wildlife incident and a reminder that rewilding or animal relocation needs careful planning. One loose devil is not the same as a managed conservation program, and the immediate priority is finding her safely.
Key points
- A Tasmanian devil named Mary escaped from quarantine at Paradise Country on the Gold Coast.
- CCTV showed her moving through the park grounds around 4am before she vanished.
- Staff and wildlife workers are searching with drones and perimeter checks, but she had not been found by Wednesday afternoon.
- The park is telling the public not to approach her and to call Wildcare if she is seen.
- Experts say the biggest danger to Mary is likely traffic or dogs, not a biological threat to the area.
If the search works, Mary can be found and brought back safely to the park. The use of perimeter checks and thermal-imaging drones gives the team a better chance of spotting her before she gets too far.
If Mary moves beyond the park, she could be hit by a car or attacked by dogs, which the article identifies as the biggest threats. She may also be harder to trap if she wanders into bushland or keeps avoiding people.
