Introducing Wiri and Wayana!

Thanks to our friends from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, the Zoo’s recently arrived purinina/Tasmanian devils now have wonderful palawa kani names – Wiri and Wayana!

Palawa kani is the language of Tasmanian Aborigines. Names Wiri (‘starfish’) and Wayana (‘shark’) enable us to honour the heritage of these unique carnivorous marsupials found only in Tasmania and known as purinina in palawa kani. They also reflect the Oceania theme that our colleagues at Cressy Wildlife Facility chose for naming devils born during 2022. 

Palawa children (up to 11 years) from the Aboriginal Children Centre in Nipaluna/Hobart and children from the Northern Tasmanian Aboriginal Child Care Association chose a selection of names relating to sea creatures, using rina/shells as tokens to vote for their favourite names.

Along with sharing some fabulous drawings with us, they explained that they saw wiri/starfish as “outgoing and mischievous” and liked wayana/shark for a purinina, because both species have sharp teeth.

“We’ve loved collaborating with the team at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and having their Palawa children name these young devils, a species that’s such a special part of their heritage,” says our lead carnivore keeper Nick.

“I’m particularly fond of Wiri as the female we’ve given this name to really does like to lie under her nest box - spread out like a starfish!”  

Now out of quarantine, Wiri and Wayana have full access to all of their habitat, which is adjacent to that of male devil Nita – who remains extremely curious and interested in his new young neighbours, and vice-versa!

“As a non-breeding group Nita and the females are in separate areas but have the positive stimulation of being relatively close and can see, smell, and communicate with each other. While currently it’s Nita who our visitors will more reliably see (he’s super active throughout the day), as well as being very active at night, Wiri and Wayana are now starting to venture out during the day,” explains Nick.

As they do with all species in their care, Nick and the team are constantly coming up with ways to keep life interesting and stimulating for all three devils. Some recent enrichments for Wiri and Wayana have included blood and meat ice blocks, placing ungulate poo and some of Nita’s (distinctive smelling!) straw bedding in their habitat, and giving them an infertile ostrich egg to investigate.  

If you’re lucky enough to spot one or both females when you visit and want to know who’s who – Wiri has a big distinguishing white stripe across her chest, and Wayana has a small white mark just above her tail.