Donna goes to Devil's Heaven
Donna goes to devils Heaven
© BARBARA BREWIN May 2009
Donna was in trouble – again, she was always getting into mischief She had been born in Tasmania a beautiful island state of Australia. Nowhere in the whole world did the devils live. This was their home.
Donna was black with a pointy nose, a red mouth and her fur was so soft, like silk, but this would soon be tough and wiry as she grew. She was still, really a very young devil.
She had a brother Gumboot and they were always fighting over food. Donna and Gumboot would fight for the same piece of food even though more food was in the house. She and Gumboot would grunt and push each other to try to get first to the food. Gumboot would grab a piece of food and they he would run off with Donna chasing him until she ran out of breath.
Donna was in trouble because she has been out with Gumboot and being so young she was not allowed out yet without her Mum. They crossed a stream and Donna could not swim. She had slipped and fallen into the water. Gumboot came to the rescue. Donna was wet and very cold. They went home feeling very sorry for themselves. Their Mum told them off and said they were not allowed out for the next two days as punishment.
Mum was worried as many Tasmanian Devils were ill and dying from an illness and they had lost many of their family and friends. There was no cure for the illness which affected their faces in the form of great big tumours which were like a lump which did not go away and kept growing bigger. When they became ill they could not eat food and starved to death
Mum was worried and so a family meeting was called. Dad who was away all week hunting came home and Mum and Dad said they were going to move somewhere else to live so that they would be safe from the illness which was believed to be spreading through breeding and fighting between the Devils.
Donna and Gumboot were very excited; they would find a new home, and new friends and travel. They could not wait to go.
After packing a little spare food, Mum and Dad led the way setting out on their adventure to find a new home and life. They said goodbye to their friends who wished them well and promised to visit them when they were settled in their new home.
The little family travelled from early in the morning, only stopping to drink some water from a stream and to eat a little food. They crossed a small bridge. It began to get dark and they were now far from home; they had no idea where they were or where they were headed. There were trees all around them. Mum said they would sleep the night in the forest. The found a hollow tree trunk on the ground which was perfect for them to sleep and to keep them safe. All four snuggled up together to keep warm, and so that Donna and Gumboot would not be frightened by the night noises in the forest made by the Wallabies, wombats, possums, echidnas, spotted quolls and many more wild animals. . Most of the animals were nocturnal, which meant they only came out at night to eat and play. You could see their eyes glistening under the stars and moonlit sky. They would sleep all day whilst the busy world carried on around them. Sadly many animals did not have any road sense and did not know their Green Cross Code. They were often knocked down by cars and hurt or even died.
Donna woke up early the next morning, and decided to explore. The sun was just beginning to shine through the early morning mist .She came to a pathway/track and decided to see where it led. Something moved, and Donna stopped. Peering through the gloom (Devils have very poor eye sight) she saw what appeared to be a big prickly ball moving slowly ahead. The Prickly Ball began to move and Donna ran after it. Donna caught up with the prickly ball who had now stopped and hidden his head in his prickles. Donna tapped the prickly ball with her nose. “Ouch” she cried, “that hurt”. “You should not be so nosey” said the prickly ball. “Who are you?” asked Donna. “I am an Echidna and my needles help to keep me safe. I am sorry you hurt your nose” said Prickly Ball.
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That’s OK” said Donna “I won’t do it again” she said laughing.. Donna told Prickly Ball they were looking for a new home. “Good luck” replied Prickly Ball. She laughed as she said goodbye to Prickly Ball and hoped to see him again.
Moving on up the track Donna felt very brave all on her own. She wished Gumboot were there with her. Suddenly she heard a loud noise. She stopped, a little nervous. What could she hear?? Thump, thump, thump, went the noise, thump, thump thump. Donna hid behind a large tussle of grass. She saw an animal with a long tail and pointed nose with a baby in its pouch. The animal stopped, having spotted Donna. It walked towards Donna slowly. “Who are you” asked the animal?. ”I am Donna and I am a Tasmanian Devil” replied Donna. “That’s OK then” replied the animal. “I am a Wallaby and I carry my baby in my pouch. My name is Winifred. What are you doing out here all on your own? asked Winifred. “I am exploring” replied Donna “my brother Gumboot and our Mum and Dad are looking for a new home where we will be safe.
“I know the very place for you” said Winifred “You need to go to Tasmania Zoo in Launceston. Some of my friends live there and I visit them from time to time”. There is a very special place called Devil’s Heaven, and lots of Tasmanian Devils live there. They are loved, looked after and cared for by the kind Zoo caretakers. People come from all over the world to see them. It is heaven for them.”
“How do I get there?” asked Donna.
Winifred had to think about this. “I am not sure” she replied, but I will go and see my friend Woolly Wombat because he knows everything and he will tell me. Meet me here tomorrow and I will get him to take you there.”.
“I must go back to my brother and parents now” replied Donna “and I will bring them here tomorrow”. The new friends said goodbye to each other and Winifred hopped away with her baby.
What a day it had been. Donna ran all the way back to her parents and Gumboot to tell them the good news.
In the meantime Gumboot had met some other Devils and they had been fighting over some food. Gumboot had blood on his nose and was feeling sorry for himself and he had lost out on the food and was still hungry.
Donna told Mum, Dad and Gumboot about her new friends Prickly Ball, Winifred the Wallaby, and Woolly Wombat. They decided they would meet Woolly Wombat tomorrow and see if he could lead them to find Tasmania Zoo in Launceston.
Next morning was a dull dark day. Tasmanian Devils are nocturnal and usually only come out at night, but because the morning was dark they decided to meet up with Winifred and Woolly Wombat.
On the way Donna spotted Prickly Ball and she and Gumboot went to say hello. Prickly Ball was very grumpy this morning and hid his face in his prickles. He did manage to say a gruff “hello”.
Winifred was waiting for them with her baby still in the pouch. With her was a brown Woolly animal with coarse brown fur and a fur flat plate on his back. This was his protection against his enemies and cars. This must be Woolly Wombat. They introduced themselves and Woolly Wombat said he would take them to Tasmania Zoo.
“It is a long way” said Woolly “it will take us a few days but we can stop to rest.” The friends said goodbye to Winifred who promised to visit them at Tasmania Zoo.
After a while the little family and Woolly Wombat came to a river which was very deep. A small boat was moored at the side of the river. The friends climbed into the boat. Woolly Wombat took the oars and rowed across to the other side. Some duck billed Platypus swam in front of them to guide the little boat. This was fun Donna and Gumboot decided. After leaving the boat they walked a short distance and came to the village of Lower Crackpot in Staverton. Here there were some very small houses and they decided to stay for the night. This was great fun. They could see the mazes at Tasmazia and people getting lost in them. There was the most lovely smell coming from a house. Woolly Wombat told them this was the best Pancake Parlour in the whole world. Donna and Gumboot hoped they could have a pancake with either strawberry sauce or raspberry sauce and lots of ice-cream. Yummy
After a good night’s sleep the family said goodbye to Lower Crackpot and Tasmazia and carried on walking, stopping every little while to rest. At night they would find somewhere to sleep and find food to eat.
After four nights Woolly Wombat told them they were nearly at Tasmania Zoo.
It had been a long way to travel, and they were nearly there. In front of them the little family of Devils saw a long driveway and some buildings. They were a little nervous of what they would find, but they did not need to worry. Suddenly they heard the sound of some Devils in a wire enclosure just in front of them. Inside were five other Devils, two of them young Devils.
Donna and Gumboot ran up to the enclosure. The five Devils in the enclosure came and walked towards them and said “Welcome, you will be safe and happy here”. Dad Devil found a small hole which he dug into to make a hole big enough for the little family to join their new friends. Now there were nine Devils, with Donna and Gumboot having two new friends, Donny and Lily who were the same age as them. They touched noses to greet each other.
The friends turned to say goodbye to Woolly Wombat and to thank him for his help. He promised to visit them with Winifred the Wallaby. “Please bring Prickly Ball as well” said Donna “as he is a friend too”. “Will do” said Woolly Wombat with a goodbye wave.
The four young Devils started to chase one another round and round until they were out of breath. The parents looked on smiling. They were soon playing games. Before long a strange animal ran along the top of the fence and began to throw things at them. “Oh don’t worry that is Polly Possum who loves to tease us” said Lily “she is a great friend and will bring her family sometimes and we all play together. We have lots of fun.”
Brooke the lady who looked after the Devils at Tasmania Zoo could not believe her eyes the next morning when she came to feed the Devils their breakfast. Now there were nine of them. She did not know where they had come from, but she was happy. People would come from all over the world to visit Tasmania Zoo in Launceston and they would give lots and lots of money to keep the Devils safe and for the doctors to try and find a cure for the Devils illness.
But for now Donna, Gumboot and their Mum and Dad had found a new home, they were safe and could live out the rest of their days knowing they would be loved and cared for. They would have lots of friends and lots of fun and be happy. Yes Donna and her family had truly come to Devils Heaven.
The End.
Barbara Brewin © All rights reserved 2nd June 2009.
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