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| Tasmanian Devil Joey |
Watch Senior Carnivore Keeper, Nick, introduce the Tasmanian devil sisters here, via Auckland Zoo’s Instagram.
The tiny twosome made their way across the ditch earlier in the year as part of the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program, a Tasmanian-led initiative that works with Save The Tasmanian Devil. Previously named Jellyfish and Krill, the sisters have since received new names paying homage to their heritage.
The origin of the new names, Wiri and Wayana, were chosen in partnership with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, where palawa children from the Aboriginal Children Centre in nipaluna (Hobart) and the Northern Tasmanian Aboriginal Child Care Association, helped to choose the names.
In the native language of the palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal people), known as palawa kani, Wiri means ‘starfish’ and Wayana translates to ‘shark’
Wiri and Wayana have become ambassadors for their species since arriving in Auckland, helping to educate visitors on the iconic Australian species, and show those from around the globe how truly unique and special Australia’s native fauna is.
Tasmanian devils have been extinct on mainland Australia for 3500 years, with Tasmania the only place on Earth the endangered marsupials call home. This makes the arrival of Wiri and Wayana at Auckland Zoo particularly exciting, as New Zealand welcomes their own little bundles of Australian wonder to their shores this spring!
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