SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — They’re toothy, they’re feisty, they’re screechy, and they’ve just touched down in San Diego.
The San Diego Zoo has officially welcomed two rare and remarkable new residents: a pair of Tasmanian devil brothers named Jetsam and Flotsam. The 3-year-old duo arrived from Aussie Ark, a leading conservation group in New South Wales, Australia, and are now settling into their new home in the zoo’s Australian Outback habitat.
Already turning heads with their expressive growls and spirited personalities, the marsupial siblings offer visitors a chance to witness one of nature’s most elusive and endangered carnivores—up close and in action.
“They’re most active early in the morning and again in the evenings during Nighttime Zoo hours,” zoo officials shared. But if you swing by in the mid-afternoon, you might catch them napping or sunbathing.
Tasmanian devils might be best known to some as a whirlwind of teeth and snarls from Saturday morning cartoons, but the real creatures are far more fascinating—and in urgent need of protection.
Found only on the island of Tasmania, these nocturnal scavengers play a vital role in keeping their ecosystem clean by consuming carrion. Unfortunately, they’ve been severely impacted by Devil Facial Tumor Disease—a contagious and deadly illness that has decimated populations in the wild,.
But zoo officials say there’s hope.
Thanks to international collaborations like the one between Aussie Ark and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, the global population is slowly beginning to recover. The arrival of Jetsam and Flotsam highlights these ongoing efforts, and gives zoo visitors the chance to learn firsthand about conservation in action.
The San Diego Zoo has been home to Tasmanian devils on and off since the 1950s, and the new arrivals continue a decades-long legacy of species care, education, and awareness.
So whether you’re a longtime animal lover or just looking for a devilishly fun day out, consider swinging by the Australian Outback to meet the zoo’s newest residents.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
