S'pore Night Safari welcomes 4 new Tasmanian devils named Lumière, Cogsworth, Scuttle & Cuttlefish

Singapore's Night Safari has welcomed four new three-year-old Tasmanian devils from the Australian conservation organisation, Aussie Ark.

The Night Safari received its first Tasmanian devils in 2022.

The three males and one female will join the three others currently at the Night Safari along the Tasmanian Devil Trail in the park, said Mandai Wildlife Group.

According to its press release, the four new Tasmanian devils are being carefully introduced to the other three, and the process will be gradual and based on their comfort levels.

The Animal Care team is closely monitoring the Tasmanian devils' interactions to ensure positive social dynamics and their well-being.

The three males, named Cogsworth, Lumière, and Scuttle, will be housed together in one exhibit.

The female, named Cuttlefish, will share the enclosure with the current three devils.

The groups will be rotated between the two exhibits regularly to encourage environmental stimulation.

Meet the devils

Tasmanian devils are found only in the state of Tasmania in Australia, and they are the world's largest carnivorous marsupial.

The newcomers can be distinguished by their unique appearances and temperaments, said Mandai Wildlife Group.

The female Cuttlefish is "notably vocal" and can be easily spotted by a white marking near her tail.

Cogsworth has an all-black coat and is "equally expressive".

He is often the first to explore new areas.

Lumière is "quieter and more reserved" and he can be recognised by the large white spot near his tail.

The final male, Scuttle, has white spots on his back and "tends to be protective of his personal space".

Endangered species

Mandai Wildlife Group shared that the Tasmanian devils are part of a global ambassador programme that helps raise awareness for their species, their plight in the wild and the importance of safeguarding them.

The Tasmanian devil is listed as endangered due to the spread of a contagious cancer, devil facial tumour disease, which has affected wild populations.

The four newcomers at the Night Safari are part of the insurance population managed by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Programme, an initiative led by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, which aims to build a healthy, cancer-free insurance population under human care.

“This transfer marks a meaningful step forward in our collaboration with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Programme and Aussie Ark to safeguard this iconic species. Beyond strengthening population resilience, we aim to deepen public understanding of why Tasmanian devils matter," said Cheng Wen-Haur, the deputy CEO of Life Sciences and Operations and Chief Life Sciences Officer at Mandai Wildlife Group.

He said:

"Their presence here enables us to tell a compelling conservation story – one that begins in Tasmania but resonates globally. By connecting people with the devils’ journey, we hope to transform conservation from a distant concern into a personal and actionable cause. Even small actions like supporting conservation efforts or simply sharing their story can make a real difference.”

Top photos via Mandai Wildlife Group