You’re probably here because you typed show me pictures of a tasmanian devil into a search bar, expecting to see a spinning brown tornado with a raspy voice. Honestly, the real thing is way more interesting, though a lot less likely to eat through a tree trunk in three seconds. When you look at high-resolution photos of Sarcophilus harrisii, the first thing you notice isn't a whirlwind. It’s the ears. They turn a bright, flushing red when the animal is stressed or excited.
They're stocky. They're black-furred. They look like a cross between a very muscular stray dog and a tiny bear.
What You’re Actually Seeing in Tasmanian Devil Photos
If you scroll through a gallery of these creatures, you’ll notice a few recurring features that define the species. Most adults have a distinct white "gorget" or stripe across their chest and sometimes on their rump. It breaks up their outline in the dark. Because they are the world's largest carnivorous marsupials, their proportions are a bit weird. Their heads are massive compared to their bodies. Why? Because that skull houses some of the most powerful jaw muscles in the mammal world.
A Tasmanian devil can bite with a force of over 1,200 Newtons. To put that in perspective, they have a bite-force-to-body-mass ratio that outclasses lions and tigers. When you see a picture of one with its mouth wide open, it’s usually not "roaring" at a predator. It’s actually showing fear or uncertainty. It’s a yawn of nerves.
The Face of a Scavenger
Look closely at their snout in a macro photo. You’ll see long, sensitive whiskers. Since they do most of their heavy lifting at night, they rely on those whiskers and a keen sense of smell to find carrion. They aren't exactly elite hunters like a cheetah. They’re the cleanup crew. They eat everything—bones, fur, skin, the works.
Why the Photos Have Changed Recently
If you looked for images of these animals fifteen years ago, you would have seen something heartbreaking. Many photos from the early 2000s showed devils with horrific tumors on their faces. This is DFTD—Devil Facial Tumour Disease. It’s a rare, transmissible cancer that nearly wiped them out. It’s spread when they bite each other during social feeding frenzies.
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But if you look at pictures of a tasmanian devil taken in the last year or two, you’re seeing a different story. You’re seeing healthy populations again. This is thanks to intensive conservation efforts by groups like the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP) and Aussie Ark.
In 2020, something massive happened. They were reintroduced to mainland Australia for the first time in 3,000 years. Photos from the Barrington Tops sanctuary in New South Wales show joeys being born in the wild on the mainland. It’s a huge win. The fur on these mainland devils looks thick and healthy, a far cry from the sickly individuals that dominated wildlife photography a decade ago.
Identifying Joeys vs. Adults
Baby devils, known as imps or joeys, are surprisingly adorable. They are born the size of a grain of rice. They have to crawl into the mother's pouch and compete for one of four teats. Since a mother can give birth to 20 or 30 at once, the math is brutal. Only the strongest survive the first few minutes of life.
When you see a photo of a joey, you'll notice they are much more agile. Adults are terrestrial, but the young ones can climb trees. It’s a survival mechanism. If you’re a small devil, the biggest threat to your life is usually a larger, hungrier devil.
The Misunderstood "Scream"
The name "devil" came from early European settlers who heard unearthly screams coming from the bush at night. If you’ve ever seen a video or a sequence of photos of a group of devils eating, you understand the chaos. They growl, screech, and vibrated. It sounds like a demonic possession.
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In reality, it’s just communication. They use these sounds to establish a pecking order at a carcass. It’s mostly posturing. They’d rather shout than fight, because an injury means they can't hunt or scavenge effectively.
Where to Capture the Best Images
If you’re a photographer or just a traveler wanting to see them in the flesh, you have to go to Tasmania. While there are small populations in fenced sanctuaries on the mainland, the island state is their true home.
- Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary: Great for close-up shots of rescued individuals.
- Devils@Cradle: Located near Cradle Mountain, this provides a rugged, alpine backdrop for photos.
- Tarkine Coast: One of the few places where you might catch a glimpse of a truly wild devil in the rainforest, though it's incredibly rare given their nocturnal habits.
The best time to photograph them is during a "keeper talk" or a scheduled feeding. Because they move so fast and live in dark environments, getting a crisp shot in the wild is a nightmare for even pro photographers. You need a fast shutter speed—at least 1/500s—and a lens that can handle low light.
Why They Look Different in Summer vs. Winter
Tasmania's climate is famously volatile. In winter photos, devils look like rounder, fluffier balls of soot. They store fat in their tails. A thick, "plump" tail is the universal sign of a healthy, well-fed devil. If you see a picture of one with a thin, bony tail, that animal is likely starving or ill.
In summer, they might look a bit more "scraggly" as they shed or deal with the heat. Remember, they don't sweat. They pant to stay cool, which is why so many summer photos show them with their tongues out and those ears glowing bright pink.
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Visual Cues of Behavior
When you're looking through images, pay attention to the tail position.
A straight tail usually means they’re on the move or investigating.
A curled tail or one held stiffly can indicate aggression or intense focus.
Moving Toward a Future with More Devils
The goal of modern wildlife photography isn't just to show a pretty animal. It’s to document recovery. We are currently seeing the "Devils 2.0" generation—animals that are showing signs of an immune response to the facial tumors. Geneticists like Katherine Belov have been studying how these animals are evolving at lightning speed to fight the cancer.
Recent photos often show researchers ear-notching or microchipping devils. This isn't just for fun; it’s how we track the survival of a species that was nearly a ghost.
Take Action for the Devil
If you’ve enjoyed looking at these animals and want to ensure they stay on the map, there are a few practical things you can do. Supporting the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal through the University of Tasmania is the most direct way to fund vaccine research. If you ever find yourself driving in Tasmania, especially at night, slow down. Roadkill is currently one of the leading causes of death for healthy devils. They are drawn to the road to eat other roadkill, which creates a deadly cycle.
Keeping these "cleanup crews" alive keeps the entire Tasmanian ecosystem in balance. Without them, feral cats and foxes take over, which spells disaster for native birds and smaller marsupials.
Keep your eyes on the latest sightings from the Barrington Tops project. We are witnessing a massive ecological experiment in real-time. Seeing a Tasmanian devil in the wild on the Australian mainland is no longer a thing of the past; it’s a very real, very exciting future.