HISTORY

Aussie Ark, (initially named Devil Ark) was created by the Director of Australian Reptile Park (ARP), John Weigel AM, based on his vision and passion to save the Tasmanian devil. It was developed in partnership with ARP, the Zoo Aquarium Association (ZAA) and the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species (FAME) as a response to the need for a large insurance population of the species for future release back to Tasmania.

Devil Ark was initially set on 500 hectares and located at an altitude of 1,350 metres in the heritage-listed Barrington Tops. The project aimed at providing large fenced areas for social groups of Tasmanian devils to express natural behaviours, reproduce naturally and optimise genetic diversity while being cost-effective. Devil Ark Incorporated was created in 2011 and the Devil Ark Conservation Fund was given Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status in 2012. Devil Ark was launched on 18th January 2011 with the arrival of 44 founder devils.

The enormous and ongoing success of Devil Ark led to the organisation holding over 150 Tasmanian devils by 2013, equalling 52% of the mainland population. The innovative approach and accomplishments led to the facility expansion in 2017 to include 6 additional threatened species, and transitioning into the now Australia’s Wildlife Ark Limited (Aussie Ark).

The organisation has built upon its initial success, now boasting over 2000Ha of natural bush habitat which also protects 50 species of mammals, 278 species of birds, 42 species of reptiles and 18 species of frogs already residing in the area from unnatural predation.

Chronological History

• 2011 – Devil Ark launched
• January 18, 2011 – Released first 44 “founder” devils
• June 23, 2011 – Announced new litters of devils
• September 2, 2011 – Official Devil Ark opening
• March 27, 2012 – Devil population reached 94 individuals
• July 2012 – 40 Tasmanian devil joeys born at Devil Ark
• May 21, 2013 – Devil Ark Director, John Weigel announced as a finalist for this year’s UNAA World Environment Day Awards
• August 15, 2013 – Announced 35 Tasmanian devil joeys born
• November 27, 2014 – Announced finalist in NSW tourism awards
• June 3, 2015 – Announced the return of 23 Tasmanian devils back to Tasmania
• July 7, 2015 – 27 Tasmanian devil joeys born confirmed
• Nov 4, 2015 – Devil Ark President and General Manager, Tim Faulkner, awarded Australian Geographic, Conservationist of the Year
• March 8, 2016 – Devil Ark Director, John Weigel, honoured by the Australian Wildlife Society with the Serventy Conservation Award.
• November 3, 2016 – Devil Ark’s Inaugural Gala Dinner
• December 12, 2016 – Devil Ark Inc became Australia’s Wildlife Ark Inc 
• April 26, 2017 – Aussie Ark opened Devils Retreat its first short-stay accommodation
• July 14, 2017 – Announced the birth of 51 Tasmanian devil joey this breeding season
• July 16, 2017 – Birth of 12 Eastern quoll joeys confirmed at Aussie Ark – the group is the first to be born in the Barrington region in 100 years
• November 8, 2017 – Second Devil Ark Gala dinner held at Rosehill Gardens Sydney
• November 8, 2017 – Official opening of Aussie Ark’s first 64Ha Sanctuary with the release of 20 Tasmanian devils
• April 20, 2018 – Announced first Parma Wallaby joey to be born at AA
• July 1, 2018 – Construction begins for Aussie Ark’s second sanctuary, the 400Ha Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary
• August 1, 2018 – Construction begins on purpose-built Brush-tailed rock-wallaby facilities
• August 16, 2018 –  Birth of 30 Eastern quoll joeys confirmed 
• September 2018 – Birth of 48 Tasmanian devil joeys confirmed 
• October 26, 2018 – Birth of 12 Southern brown bandicoot joeys confirmed
• December 5, 2018 – Release of a small group of Tasmanian devils into Aussie Ark’s 64Ha sanctuary
• January 8, 2019 – Release of the first Brush-tailed rock-wallaby into Aussie Ark’s 64Ha sanctuary
• April 16, 2019 – Birth of two Long-nosed potoroo joeys confirmed
• May 9, 2019 – Second release of 40 Eastern quolls in Booderee National Park
• July 2, 2019 – Birth of 69 Tasmanian devil joeys confirmed at Aussie Ark 
• August 21, 2019 – Birth of 51 Eastern quoll joeys confirmed 
• October 3, 2019 – Parma wallaby joey rescued by Aussie Ark
• October 11, 2019 – 130 joeys confirmed this breeding season
• October 29, 2019 – Last cat removed from the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary
• November 6, 2020 – Third Aussie Ark Gala held at Curzon Hall Marsfield
• January 2020 – Platypus were collected from the wild and relocated
• January 16, 2020 – Historic first collection of Manning River Turtles and rescue and relocation of more than 30 individuals
• February 11, 2020 – Rescue of 12 Manning River turtle eggs
• February 25, 2020 – World’s first world insurance of Manning River turtle laid 20 eggs
• March 17, 2020 – Aussie Ark and the Australian Reptile Park confirm the hatching of 10 Manning River turtles
• May 4, 2020 – 26 Tasmanian devil joeys confirmed so far
• May 15, 2020 – First Brush-tailed rock-wallaby joeys (2) born into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary
• August 2020 – 69 Tasmanian devil joeys 
• September 7, 2020 – Aussie Ark returned for the first time in 60 years 28 Eastern into the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary
• September 15, 2020 – Birth of 46 Eastern quoll joeys confirmed
• October 5, 2020 – Aussie Ark returned 26 Tasmanian devils to the Barrington Tops for the first time in 3000 years