Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park is now home to four new Aussie residents.
Four one-year-old male Tasmanian devils were bred in captivity in Tasmania before being transferred under an Ambassador Programme.
"It's very exciting," Orana Park keeper, Rachael Mason, told Newshub.
It's an initiative aimed at saving the iconic Australian marsupial. Nearly ninety percent of the population has been wiped out in the last two decades by a fatal disease.
"Devils are suffering from a really unique cancer called devil facial tumour disease," Wade Anthony, founder of Tasmanian Devils @ Cradle Wildlife Park and sanctuary, told Newshub.
"One of the strategies that's been put in place by the State Government in Tasmania is an insurance population of animals... one of the offshoots of that is creating awareness on a world scale."
Orana Park has had a pair of Tasmanian Devils since 2014. Now, Evelyn and Pumba, both 7, are reaching the end of their life expectancy.
The park jumped at the opportunity to take up four from across the ditch.
"They thrive here exactly for that reason - it's not a big difference in climate. We've got a similar set up to some of the Tasmanian facilities," says Mason.
A lifeline for this endangered Australian - albeit a long way from home.
Newshub.
