Mary the Tasmanian devil — who captured the hearts of Australians after bolting from her enclosure on the Gold Coast and spending more than two weeks on the run — has made her triumphant return to public display, nearly three months after the ordeal began.
The two-year-old devil is now back in her exhibit at Paradise Country wildlife park in Oxenford, greeting visitors once more following a long and difficult road to recovery that included emergency hospital treatment, physiotherapy, and a carefully managed diet of chicken and kangaroo.
A Daring Escape That Gripped the Nation
Mary's adventure began in the early hours of 2 June, when she made what staff described as an "abnormally large leap" to break free from her quarantine enclosure at the Gold Coast park. The escape set off a search effort lasting more than two weeks, with residents in surrounding areas occasionally catching glimpses of the small marsupial prowling across their driveways in the dead of night — some of those sightings captured on home CCTV cameras.
When Mary was eventually found, she was in a poor state — dehydrated, underweight, and carrying multiple injuries. She was rushed to the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) for emergency treatment before being transferred back to Paradise Country to begin her recovery.
The story drew widespread attention across the country, with Mary becoming something of a celebrity fugitive — a reminder of the remarkable and occasionally unpredictable wildlife that forms such a distinctive part of Australia's natural history.
Three Months of Recovery Against the Odds
The rehabilitation process was far from straightforward. Lauren Mousley, curator of native and exotic wildlife at Paradise Country, described the recovery journey as "very, very long and quite difficult."
"But she's defied all the odds and with every week that passes, she just improves and improves," Mousley said, calling the milestone "absolutely phenomenal."
Regular physiotherapy sessions and a high-protein diet played a central role in rebuilding Mary's strength. Recent footage from the park shows her confidently nosing around every corner of her enclosure — a dramatic contrast to her condition when she first returned from hospital.
"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."
Reunion With Companion Mavca Came First
Before Mary could be reintroduced to the public, keepers had an important step to manage: reuniting her with her enclosure companion, another Tasmanian devil named Mavca. That reunion took place just over a month ago, but only after staff were confident Mary had recovered enough strength 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 well known for their feisty temperaments, and ensuring both animals were in good health before reintroduction was a key priority for the care team.
What's Next for Mary
With Mary now settled back into her public enclosure and her recovery continuing to progress well, the outlook for the Gold Coast's most famous fugitive is bright. Mousley indicated that visitors to Paradise Country in Oxenford can now expect to spot Mary going about her business in her habitat.
The story has proven a feel-good highlight for the region — a welcome contrast to some of the more serious incidents that have made Gold Coast news headlines in recent times. For now, Mary appears content to explore her enclosure rather than the neighbourhood beyond it.
