San Diego Zoo Welcomes Endangered Tasmanian Devils From Australia

The San Diego Zoo has introduced two rare Tasmanian devil brothers, Jetsam and Flotsam, to its Australian Outback habitat, continuing a conservation legacy dating back to the 1950s. These 3-year-old marsupials arrived from Aussie Ark in Australia as part of global efforts to protect the endangered species, whose population has declined by nearly 85% primarily due to Devil Facial Tumor Disease, a contagious and fatal cancer. The devils are most active during early mornings and nighttime zoo hours, and their presence offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn about their ecological role as scavengers and the urgent need for conservation. The zoo is among few in the U.S. caring for Tasmanian devils, contributing to education and research through collaborations like its Australian Forest Conservation Hub. Beyond disease, the species faces threats from human-wildlife coexistence challenges. Conservation programs have begun to help the species' global population rebound, highlighting ongoing international collaboration to ensure their survival.