Runaway Tasmanian devil Mary recaptured after two-week search

Runaway Gold Coast Tasmanian devil Mary recaptured after two-week search Wed 17 Jun 2026 at 11:28am A Tasmanian devil that sparked a two week-long search across the Gold Coast has been found and recaptured. The marsupial, named Mary, escaped from her enclosure at Paradise Country on June 2 by making what staff described as an "abnormally large leap". Wildlife staff and specialists had spent the past fortnight searching for the two-year-old devil, deploying sniffer dogs, thermal drone technology and humane traps in an effort to bring her home safely. A spokesperson for Village Roadshow Theme Parks said Mary was found last night in an area of bushland just off Kopps Road in Oxenford, less than two kilometres from the park. In a statement the spokesperson said Mary was in an "unstable condition" when she was found. "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," the spokesperson said. "Paradise Country's experienced wildlife team are continuing to support and care for Mary who is currently stable and remaining in the veterinary hospital to allow specialists to conduct further diagnostic testing." Loading...The search had uncovered several signs suggesting Mary was coping well in the wild. Carers found devil droppings in nearby bushland and discovered the remains of kangaroo and wallaby carcasses, indicating that she has been able to find food on the run. Wildlife experts had previously noted that the surrounding environment provided favourable conditions for a Tasmanian devil to survive.