Escaped devil spotted on Gold Coast CCTV after week on the loose

A frantic week-long search is underway for Mary, a two-year-old Tasmanian devil who escaped from Paradise Country wildlife park on the Gold Coast. The marsupial breached her enclosure last Tuesday, reportedly with an "abnormally large leap," and has been missing ever since.

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Mary had been 'quite elusive'.

A dedicated rescue team, comprising over a dozen staff and specialists, has been combing the area day and night. Their efforts have included deploying sniffer dogs and employing thermal drone technology in an attempt to locate Mary. The search intensified after the devil was spotted on a home security camera system on Sunday night, approximately 2 kilometers from the park.

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As long as there's food and water, she'll be able to survive comfortably for as long as she wants.

This crucial sighting has significantly aided the search party, allowing them to narrow down the search area. "The sightings were crucial to assist the team in narrowing the search area, but that Mary had been 'quite elusive'," a spokesperson for Paradise Country stated. The narrowed focus now includes bushlands backing onto the Saltwater Creek Reserve, where humane traps have been strategically placed.

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The weather is on her side, she doesn't have to adjust too much at the moment, the biggest threat is humans, dogs and vehicles.

Wildlife carers remain optimistic about Mary's chances of survival. University of Queensland captive animal expert Al Mucci noted that the current conditions are favorable for the devil. "As long as there's food and water, she'll be able to survive comfortably for as long as she wants," he said. Mucci added that while devils can travel up to 10 kilometers in a night, the biggest threats remain humans, dogs, and vehicles. The park, which temporarily closed to facilitate the search, has since reopened.

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[Mary is] moving quietly, she is nimble while cruising around the neighbourhoods and bushland.