By Madeline Townsend | Manager Community Enagement
Wild Tasmanian Devils can only be found in Tasmania, the island State of Australia. Although devils live in zoos and wildlife parks around the world, the wild population is precious and must be preserved. We’re playing our part in the complex network of researchers, scientists and wildlife experts to try and ensure that happens – our role at Conservation Volunteers Australia is to carry out on-ground activities, with our committed volunteers, and provide as much practical help as we can. Your support is vital – it means we can deploy well-managed and equipped teams of volunteers to do what is needed.
Tasmanian Devils are marsupials, with the distinctive marsupial characteristic of carrying their young in a pouch. The devil is carnivorous – a meat eater – and is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world. It took this spot after the sad extinction of the Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger. Threatened Species Day was declared in Australia 1996 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the death of the last remaining Tasmanian tiger at Hobart Zoo on 7th September 1936. Threatened Species Day is a time to reflect on what happened in the past and how similar fates to the thylacine could await other native animals and plants unless appropriate action is taken.
Early settlers hunted Tasmanian Devils because they thought devils would kill their farm animals. In 1941, devils were protected by law and their population numbers rose, but in recent years, the Devil Facial Tumour Disease has had a devastating effect on wild populations. Action is important, now more than ever, to play our part and ensure we don’t lose another species.
As we move into spring weather, our future plans include helping to dismantle some soft release enclosures in the north so they can be moved to the south of Tasmania. This process will help secure healthy wild populations of Tasmanian Devils for the future. We look forward to sharing news on progress in our next report, and thank you again for your generous support of the devils.
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