By Amy Bailey | Regional Manager
This year marks 20 years since the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) was detected, affecting Tasmanian Devils in their natural habitat. DFTD is a fatal disease, and extremely unusual as it is a transmissible cancer that passes from devil to devil – the impact on wild populations of this species has been huge. Significant reductions in the population of a top predator like the devil has significant implications for the rest of the ecosystem too. Thankfully researchers and other passionate individuals and groups are working hard towards a solution for a healthy and reliable future for the Tasmanian Devil.
To help strengthen the devil population, Conservation Volunteers Australia and Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary have undertaken a partnership to protect and support the future of Tasmanian Devils through a breeding program for healthy devils. This breeding program is showing success with our female devil, Nymeria, giving birth late last year to two babies, Luca and Kalina. Conservation Volunteers Australia’s Regional Manager in Hobart, Amy, reports “These babies have been doing so well and getting bigger by the day! The family have now been moved to a separate ‘family’ enclosure and are currently on display with their mum in Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. A highly successful breeding program, an important family - on display for people to witness.”
Bonorong now has another female devil in that enclosure ready for the breeding season, and we look forward to keeping you up-to-date on their progress in the next report. A sincere thanks to all our donors who continue to support us in our fight to give the Tasmanian Devil a Wild Future.
*Photos courtesy of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
