Cogsworth

When Cogsworth arrived at Night Safari from Australia as part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Programme, the other devils disappeared promptly into their nest boxes. Cogsworth, however, chose a different strategy. He emerged almost immediately to inspect his surroundings, investigate the keepers, and determine whether food might be involved.

From the beginning, he stood out as one of the boldest and most food-motivated of the group — often the first to approach and certainly among the least interested in hiding.

Cogsworth has developed a rather reliable greeting behaviour. Whenever familiar keepers approach, he often responds with a short vocalisation — an unmistakable “arf” — first noticed during routine nest box checks.

Over time, he has claimed a preferred corner within the indoor exhibit where he rests openly rather than concealed, greeting approaching keepers with remarkable consistency.

He has also progressed particularly well in conditioning training and appears to prefer initiating interactions himself, rather than waiting patiently for anyone else to make the first move.

Cogsworth remains active throughout the night at the Tasmanian devil exhibit and can often be heard during evening keeper talks where token feeding sessions take place.

Under ultraviolet light, he also exhibits a faint blue-green fluorescence — a phenomenon documented in Tasmanian devils but still not fully understood by scientists. The effect is surprisingly striking. Cogsworth himself, meanwhile, appears entirely unbothered by the matter.