After nearly two weeks on the run, Mary, the young Tasmanian devil that escaped from Paradise Country on the Gold Coast, has finally been found alive.
The two-year-old marsupial sparked a major search effort after she mysteriously disappeared from her quarantine enclosure at the wildlife park in Oxenford on 2 June 2026. Wildlife staff later determined that Mary had likely escaped by making an "abnormally large leap" over a 1.4-metre fence surrounding her enclosure.
Following her disappearance, Paradise Country launched an extensive operation involving wildlife keepers, sniffer dogs, thermal-imaging drones, CCTV analysis and the placement of humane traps throughout surrounding bushland. Up to 20 wildlife specialists worked around the clock in shifts to locate the elusive devil.
The search finally ended on Tuesday night, when carers discovered Mary in an area of bushland near Kopps Road in Oxenford, less than two kilometres from Paradise Country. However, the relief of finding her was tempered by concerns for her health.
According to a statement from Village Roadshow Theme Parks, Mary was located in an unstable condition and required immediate medical attention.
"The team assessed and determined she required veterinary care and rushed her to a specialist veterinary hospital where they were able to stabilise her condition," a spokesperson said.
Mary is now reported to be stable and remains under veterinary supervision while specialists conduct additional diagnostic testing. Paradise Country's experienced wildlife team continues to assist with her recovery.
Despite concerns about her condition when she was found, there were encouraging signs that Mary had managed to survive in the wild during her absence. Wildlife teams previously discovered Tasmanian devil droppings and the remains of kangaroo and wallaby carcasses in nearby bushland, suggesting she had been successfully scavenging for food.
The unusual escape attracted national attention, with members of the public reporting sightings and sharing CCTV footage believed to show Mary moving through residential areas. Unfortunately, authorities also revealed that prank calls and fake sightings complicated search efforts and diverted valuable resources.
Mary had only recently arrived at Paradise Country from a zoological facility in New South Wales as part of a conservation initiative. Carers described her as an extremely shy animal, making her daring escape all the more surprising.
The successful recovery of Mary has brought relief to wildlife staff and the wider community that had followed her story closely over the past fortnight.
Although she still faces a period of recovery and observation, her carers remain optimistic that she will eventually be reunited with her companion, Mavka, once veterinary assessments have been completed.
For now, Australia's most famous runaway Tasmanian devil is safely back in expert hands.
