The world’s first Tasmanian devil to undergo a hip replacement has died at a New Zealand zoo.
Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch announced the passing of their “cherished” seven-year-old devil Talei this week.
They said the beloved marsupial, who captured global attention in 2021 when he received the groundbreaking surgery, passed away suddenly.
“Recently, our dedicated animal care team noticed that Talei wasn’t quite himself and immediately alerted our veterinary team,” the park said.
“Despite receiving prompt medical attention, his condition deteriorated rapidly and he sadly passed away.”
Talei arrived at Orana Wildlife Park as a juvenile in 2019 as part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Programme. He was transferred from Devils@Cradle along with three other devils.
His revolutionary hip replacement was carried out after he began suffering severe pain and lameness due to the damaged joint.
The outer layer of cartilage had worn away, leaving bone effectively rubbing against bone.
“Talei’s long life is a testament to the dedication of our team and the veterinary professionals who made his hip replacement possible,” the park said.
In the wild, Tasmanian devils usually live up to five years, but they can reach around seven years in captivity.
The species remains under serious threat from devil facial tumour disease and vehicle strikes.
According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, there could be between 10,000 and 100,000 Tasmanian devils still living in the wild across the state.
