Mary the Tasmanian devil — the two-year-old who captured the nation's imagination after breaking free from her enclosure on the Gold Coast — has made her long-awaited return to public display, completing a remarkable recovery that her carers describe as nothing short of extraordinary.
The feisty marsupial is once again roaming her habitat at Paradise Country wildlife park in Oxenford, nearly three months after she was found dehydrated, underweight and injured following more than two weeks on the run across the Gold Coast.
How Mary's Daring Escape Unfolded
Mary's adventure began in the early hours of June 2, when she made what staff described as an "abnormally large leap" out of her quarantine enclosure at the Gold Coast facility. What followed was a search lasting more than two weeks, as locals began reporting rare nocturnal sightings of the Tasmanian devil crossing their driveways — with some captures even turning up on residential CCTV cameras.
When Mary was eventually located, she was in poor condition. She had suffered multiple injuries during her time outdoors and was rushed to the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) for emergency treatment before beginning what would become a lengthy rehabilitation process back at Paradise Country.
Australia has a rich tradition of fascination with its unique and sometimes unpredictable native wildlife, a relationship that stretches back through the History of Australia and continues to capture public attention whenever an animal like Mary makes headlines.
A Long Road to Recovery
The three months since Mary's capture have been far from straightforward, according to Paradise Country's curator of native and exotic wildlife, Lauren Mousley.
"The three-month road to recovery has been very, very long and quite difficult," Mousley said. "But she's defied all the odds and with every week that passes, she just improves and improves."
Mary's rehabilitation included regular physiotherapy sessions alongside a carefully managed diet of chicken and kangaroo to help rebuild her strength. Recent footage from the park shows the devil confidently exploring every corner of her enclosure — a striking contrast to her condition when she first returned to the facility after her ordeal.
"It is so surreal seeing her back in her habitat again," Mousley said. "As soon as we opened the door to her nest box, she was immediately straight to exploring."
Mousley called the milestone "absolutely phenomenal," a sentiment that has been widely shared by the many Australians who followed Mary's story from the moment she went missing.
Reunion With Companion Mavca
Part of Mary's recovery journey involved a carefully timed reunion with her companion, another Tasmanian devil named Mavca. That reintroduction took place just over a month ago and had to be delayed until Mary was strong enough to hold her own.
"Initially, if we were to introduce Mary straight away to Mavca, she wouldn't essentially be able to hold her own if they had little tiffs between them, which devils certainly do," Mousley explained. "We want to make sure that both animals are nice and safe, and we want Mavca to feel nice and comfortable just like Mary."
Tasmanian devils are known for their feisty temperaments, and ensuring both animals were in the right condition before any contact was a critical part of the recovery plan.
What's Next for Mary
With Mary now back in her public-facing enclosure and continuing to improve week by week, visitors to Paradise Country will once again have the chance to catch a glimpse of the plucky marsupial who became an unlikely celebrity.
Mousley confirmed it "shouldn't be too long" before Mary is fully back to meeting the public in her usual capacity — a fitting finale to one of the Gold Coast's most talked-about wildlife sagas in recent memory. For those who have been following the story of a similar unexpected animal making headlines, the theme of a creature finding its way back home will feel familiar.
