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Five little devils were given a check up at the Monarto Zoological Park this week. Stethascopes were out on Wednesday as the joey Tasmanian Devils had their first major check up.

Zoos SA veterinarian Dr Ian Smith conducted the health check, with the joeys weighed and microchipped.

Dr Smith said the devils were in good health.

This is the first season of the breeding program at Monarto with five joeys born in March, three males and two females.

Zoos SA senior curator Peter Clark said Zoos SA was proud to be involved in the mainland breeding program of Tasmanian Devils and was delighted the first breeding season had seen such a great outcome.

The joeys' mothers, Dandi and Angel, had been in quarantine for two years before they were able to be bred, due to strict South Australian guidelines and the need to ensure the animal did not have the Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

The disease was first discovered in 1996 and has resulted in a decline of more than 50 per cent of the Tasmanian Devil population since the emergence of the disease.

Zoos SA director of conservation prograins Kevin Evans said Tasmanian devils were at risk of becoming extinct due to the spread of DFTD and had recently been classified as endangered.

Monarto Zoo is the only zoo in South Australia to have a Tasmanian Devil breeding program, and all devils born there will remain on the mainland.

To reduce fears of the animal becoming extinct Mr Clark said 1000 to 1500 Tasmanian Devils needed to be kept on the mainland to maintain the integrity of the `insurance population' of devils.