To survive in the wild, the devils must shy away from human contact but remain curious about their surrounds.

First up is Reba. To earn her spot in the Maria Island squad she must avoid the food hidden under a beach ball, a test designed to determine whether she'll avoid human temptations on the island. Reba passes the test but, to prevent inbreeding, brother Ruben misses out. The devils are released into a large enclosure where a hierarchy emerges as Big Jimmy hogs the food and hapless Manny goes without.

Once training is complete, the scientists put the devils through final health checks and fit five lucky recipients with GPS collars so they can track their every move. Then comes the moment they have waited for – the culmination of three years of planning and hard work – as the scientists load the boat and set off for Maria Island to release the devils into the wild.

The fourth episode of Aussie Animal Island follows the devils through a scorching summer and some of the hottest days on record.

With the icy Antarctic winds long gone, the devils are struggling to cope in their new environment. Wild devils are nocturnal but this hand-reared squad has a lot to learn. Instead of cooling in a burrow, the devils are lying around in the hot sun.