Save the Program 2013-14 Annual Program Report

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment The 2013-14 Annual Program Report

The Annual Program Report is produced by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (the Program) to report on activities over the past financial year. This edition, however, covers the period 1 July 2013–31 December 2014, a period of 18 months, in order to align future reporting with the calendar year. The Report outlines how, with guidance from national and international specialists and support from funding partners, the Program is working towards the vision of an enduring and ecologically functional population of devils in the wild in . The Annual Program Report is produced by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE). The report also features contributions from the wide range of organisations that are part of, or work closely with, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.

ISSN 1839-1907 (Print) ISSN 1839-1915 (Online)

Contents

Introduction ...... 1 Overview ...... 2 Program Management ...... 4 Insurance Population Sub-program ...... 8 FOCUS ON: Contraception Project ...... 11 Monitoring and Management Sub-program ...... 12 Wild Management ...... 15 FOCUS ON: Mine shafts ...... 21 Research and Collaboration ...... 22 FOCUS ON: Bio Archive ...... 26 Case Study: Professor Kathy Belov ...... 27 Publications ...... 29 Performance of the Program to Targets ...... 31 Devil Dollars ...... 32 Where to from here? ...... 33 Devil Directory (as at 31 December 2014) ...... 34

i Introduction

The past 18 months has been a period of transition The review, conducted by independent expert group for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP, the Environmental Evidence , identified the Program). At the beginning of this period a five-year establishment of the Insurance Population as a phase was completed. That phase had a strong focus major achievement. It also commended the Program on establishing an Insurance Population, improving as “exemplary in active adaptive management in knowledge of the presence of Devil Facial Tumour the scientific process”, stating that “the Program Disease (DFTD) in the wild and establishing the Maria architecture, flexibility, governance and collaborative Island devil population. agenda enabled understanding of the threat and management options to be continually informed as the With the completion of this period, the conservation science in many research areas matured”. actions of the Program have been considerably broadened. The Program’s strategic direction is now Recognition of the strong collaborative nature of the focused on establishing disease-free devil populations Program is important. The Save the Tasmanian Devil in Tasmania and developing strategies to maintain Program has succeeded in building very productive viable populations in the wild across Tasmania. partnerships between governments, the conservation breeding community (zoos and wildlife parks), research Along with this substantial development in the groups and the community. strategic direction of the Program, a number of initiatives have also been advanced. These include: Much of the work undertaken over the past 18 months could not have been done without the support • significant progress in knowledge of the disease and guidance of collaborators, colleagues and the and steps towards immunising against it community. The stories of lucky devils Savage and • implementing the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Larry, (Pp. 19-21) are just two of the many that Program make this abundantly clear. The Program is proud of • opening the fourth Devil Island relationships forged and maintained with national and international research institutions, with zoos across • welcoming new member institutions into the the nation and across the globe, with community Insurance Population volunteers, with Tasmanian businesses and with • monitoring devils and other fauna on Maria colleagues in all three tiers of Government. Island, and I hope you enjoy reading about the Program’s • working to secure a DFTD-free population of achievements. I encourage you to keep up to date with all devils on the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas the activities of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program throughout the year at www.tassiedevil.com.au and on It has been gratifying to see the Program’s performance our Facebook page. and achievements favourably recognised in a recent review commissioned by the Federal Government. The aims of the review were to evaluate the impacts and Alistair Scott achievements of the Program, and to identify potential Chair, Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Steering legacy contributions to the longer-term Program goals. Committee The final report, which provides the performance assessment along with a series of recommendations, was finalised in July 2013. A copy, as well as a summary table showing the Program’s responses to the report’s recommendations, is available to download from the Program website at www.tassiedevil.com.au

2013-14 Annual Program Report

1 Overview: 1 July 2013–31 December 2014

The 2012–13 Annual Program Report made the allowed the Program to turn its focus towards the wild. statement that “This species and its disease are creating Releasing devils that are well represented genetically a unique management issue never before faced: how to within the Insurance Population will enable the protect an endangered species which is still relatively Program to supplement existing wild populations common but which has a virulent, transmissible and bolster them both numerically and genetically. and invariably fatal cancer and how to manage the Additionally, the opportunity to release devils into concomitant ecosystem impacts”. the wild while DFTD is still present has created an opportunity for immunisation work to progress to trials Work undertaken over the past 18 months has in the Tasmanian landscape. tackled these unique issues head-on. The innovative Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program was developed With 610 devils in the Insurance Population, including in this period, and exciting progress was made in 132 joeys born in 2013–14, efforts to secure the species immunisation research. Concurrently the Save the in captivity have well and truly succeeded. Helping to Tasmanian Devil Program, in partnership with the manage this outstandingly successful program is a new Australian Government, moved closer to finalising Captive Management Plan (CPM) for 2014–18, which the strategic document the Recovery Plan for the addresses a priority one Recovery Plan activity: Develop Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), which identifies and implement integrated management plans for all the key threats, options and actions required to ensure captive Tasmanian devils held at different locations. the recovery of the Tasmanian devil into the future. The CMP covers devils held in intensive management, During the development of the Recovery Plan, Program in free range enclosures, on Maria Island, within the activities have been aligned with the actions identified Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program and soon, those as necessary for the recovery of the species. devils that will be released as part of the Peninsula Devil Conservation Project (formerly known as the The final draft of the Recovery Plan specifies eight key Tasman Isolation Project). actions which have guided Program activities over the past 18 months, and will continue to do so into the The establishment of the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador future: Program was also made possible by the success of the Insurance Population. Ambassador devils are sourced 1. Manage devils and DFTD in the wild from a subset of the Insurance Population containing 2. Manage threats in the wild genetically well-represented animals not required for 3. Maintain and manage the Insurance Population breeding. These animals are being used for advocacy through their public display at five zoos: three in 4. Monitor Tasmanian devils New Zealand and two in the USA. This initiative 5. Improve knowledge of the disease and translate delivers significant benefits for the conservation of the that knowledge to management actions Tasmanian devil by raising public awareness of the fight against DFTD outside Australia, and by building 6. Research and measure habitat variables on-ground support for activities being undertaken 7. Manage the recovery program within Australia. 8. Communicate with the community and The success of the initial 12-month trial has seen this stakeholders pilot program approved by the Tasmanian Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage to become a These actions, beneath which lie a suite of activities, permanent part of the Save the Tasmanian Devil help provide a picture of how the Program has Program. During 2015 it is likely that more zoos in progressed towards saving the Tasmanian devil over North America will receive Ambassador devils. the past 18 months; and how the activities conducted by one part of the Program link with and contribute to The population of devils on Maria Island continues to the activities carried out by other areas. For example, grow, with numbers at the end of 2014 estimated to be work to consolidate the Insurance Population has around 90 animals. The STDP and its partners in the

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

2 Parks and Wildlife Service continue to monitor the number in 2013–14. The Program worked closely health of the devils and any impact they may have on with government at state and local level to introduce other fauna on the island. The world media continues warning signage, and to apply ‘ripple strips’ and other to take an active interest in the project with a highlight mitigations to attempt to reduce this threat. This work being the production of a six-part mini-series, Devil is ongoing. A new product known as Virtual Fencing Island, on the introduction of devils to Maria Island. was trialled in north-west Tasmania over the past year and has had significant success in reducing road kill. The imminent completion of a buffer zone at Dunalley will see the release of DFTD-free devils back onto the The Program has also begun to work closely with Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas in 2015, as part of mining companies to capitalise on the advantages these the Peninsula Devil Conservation Project. These devils sites can offer to devils. Being controlled environments will include descendants of the devils depopulated from that often contain highly suitable habitats, mine sites the Forestier Peninsula in 2012, as well as devils from can be surprisingly safe locations for devils. the Insurance Population that have appropriate genetic During 2014 a profiles. Constant bold new direction monitoring of for the Program the Forestier was announced Peninsula since by the Tasmanian the depopulation Government. has not detected Known as Wild Devil the presence of Recovery, this new any devils. While project will involve a population still a number of key exists on the initiatives including Tasman Peninsula, field work to trap monitoring over and monitor the the past 18 months movement of devils has found no sign and to test ways of of Devil Facial augmenting the Tumour Disease wild population. (DFTD). This population Work to understand how DFTD is impacting wild monitoring initiative populations continued throughout the past 18 months. will focus on better A monitoring program has been established to gain an understanding the understanding of the status of populations across the impact of the disease state. Annual monitoring will continue for five years to in Tasmania’s north east and include field trials to test provide information to guide management actions for a new immunisation technique. the recovery of the devil in the wild. The outcome of all this hard work will be the return Work to establish the western-most locations of the of the devil to the wild – sooner than first expected. disease also continued. Data from 2014 shows DFTD It comes as a result of ten years of hard work in the has reached the west coast of Tasmania in the Henty field, in zoo facilities, and in the laboratory. The work River region. undertaken during the past 18 months has provided the opportunity and capacity for this next step to be taken. As always, the Program worked hard to moderate other hazards to devils. Road kill continues to be a major threat to devils across the state. Over 400 road- killed devils were reported to the Devil Mobile phone

2013-14 Annual Program Report

3 Program Management

Funding partners The Program also maintains a service agreement with ZAA for the delivery of the Species Coordinator The Tasmanian Government role and a range of services supporting the Insurance Population. This contribution from ZAA allows the The Tasmanian Government, through the Department STDP to meet the Recovery Plan priority one activity: of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Ensure adequate wild and captive potential founders (DPIPWE), provided the Save the Tasmanian Devil to meet insurance population goals, and breed and Program with $2.54 million across the 2013–14 move insurance population members as appropriate, to financial year. For 2014–15 the Tasmanian Government maximise genetic representation by wild source devils has committed $2.4 million to the Program. and maintain genetic diversity. Australian Government – Department of the ZAA also provides support to the management of the Environment (DoE) Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program. (See p. 10) The Australian Government provides project funding The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Appeal to the STDP through the Caring for our Country fund. In January 2013 it was announced by Environment Outside of the core funding partners, a wide range Minister Greg Hunt that $3.3 million in funding would of individuals and organisations contribute to the be provided to the task of saving the Tasmanian devil. recovery actions for the Tasmanian devil. Generous This will consist of $2.8 million in project funding to donations from the public, corporate partners and the Program, with a further $0.5 million provided to a other conservation funds contribute significantly to separately managed project. the Program and are managed through the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Appeal (the Appeal). The Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) and Appeal operates within the structure of the University participating zoos and wildlife parks of Tasmania Foundation. The Zoo and Aquarium Association is the peak body Over the past 18 months, the Appeal has harnessed representing the zoo and aquarium community considerable public support to fund a range of projects throughout Australasia. ZAA manages the coordination via the Tasmanian Devil Grant and Scholarship process. of breeding programs and sets the level of professional In 2013, 19 grants were allocated, and for applications standards and practice for its members. It also provides submitted in 2014 it is anticipated that a further 16 general support and advice where required to its will be supported. In this way public support is being members and governments on a range of issues such as translated into real progress on the ground. biosecurity, wildlife disease and species knowledge.

The Program receives significant indirect and in-kind funding from zoos and wildlife parks associated with ZAA, estimated at over $13 million for the past five years. Zoos and wildlife parks also play an important role raising public awareness of the threat to the Tasmanian devil and helping to advocate for recovery action for the species.

Nicole Willcox and Rebecca Cuthill of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Appeal.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

4 Funded projects range from vaccine research, Governance genotyping the Tasmanian devil, contraception trials in the Insurance Population, construction of STDP Steering Committee monitoring stations, determining the habit utilisation The Steering Committee is responsible for the strategy of wild devils, and a volunteer project to build humane and oversight of the Program. It also performs ‘retirement’ enclosures. In addition, young researchers the role of a Recovery Team by reviewing progress have been supported in their work via Honours towards implementation of the Recovery Plan, scholarships and PhD top-up grants. assessing changing priorities and emerging issues. This has all been made possible due to the record funds The Committee ensures technical advice, used in raised during this period – a total of $508,595 raised in determining priorities, is sought from appropriate 2014. experts. The Committee includes members from the The Appeal maintains an active presence in both Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, traditional and social media. This profile was in Water and Environment (DPIPWE), the Australian particular evidence during the innovative social media Government Department of the Environment (DoE), campaign run during the second devil transfer to Maria and the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA). It Island, which raised significant funds. includes a representative of the science community and a representative of the conservation community. The With clear fundraising strategies being implemented Steering Committee meets biannually and has two sub- into 2015, funding for a range of projects looks set to committees: continue, with donors invited to be part of the exciting vision to secure a future for the devil. Strategic Implementation Group You can support the Appeal by visiting their website The Strategic Implementation Group provides oversight www.tassiedevil.com.au or by contacting them at of the Program components in the Business Plan, as [email protected] well as implementation and coordination of projects. It meets quarterly and is comprised of the Director, the Program Manager, and a representative from ZAA. Meta-population Advisory Committee (MAC) The MAC provides oversight of the management of the

2013-14 Annual Program Report

5 Insurance Population, including the Tasmanian Devil Communications Ambassador Program. The MAC has members drawn Over the reporting period, communication plans were from DPIPWE, DoE, ZAA and an independent expert prepared and implemented for major projects including in small population management. It is chaired by the the Peninsula Devil Conservation, Roadkill, and Maria Program Director. The MAC has one sub-committee: Island Translocation projects. Captive Research Advisory Group (CRAG) The Program continued to provide information updates The CRAG was established in 2011 to keep the Program to the community via the production of several hard up to date on existing research, and to prioritise and copy periodicals, including the Annual Program Report support, or guide, proposed research. The CRAG met 2012–13 and the Program’s newsletter. The more six times between December 2013 and September 2014. detailed news bulletin, Speak of the Devil, was also There are currently 13 active projects with the CRAG. produced electronically and emailed to key stakeholders three times over the past 18 months. At the operational level, governance is provided by the: The Program’s dedicated website at Program Management Group (PMG) www.tassiedevil.com.au was maintained as the key The PMG provides coordination and planning for source of authoritative information on the status of the the operational management of the Program. It devil and the Program’s activities. During the reporting meets fortnightly and is comprised of the Program period, 27 news articles were published detailing Director, Program Manager and Sub-program Leaders. progress with research, monitoring and management Reporting to the PMG is the: strategies; and 41 articles were published on behalf Molecular Research Advisory Panel (MRAP) of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Appeal. The Program also worked with the Appeal on joint The MRAP evaluates research applications that involve promotions and public events to raise awareness and access to the archive of biological material collected by funds to support the Program. the Program. More information about the work of the MRAP can be found on page 22.

Governance Structure for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP)

Program bodies are shown in blue, Program activities in green, core funding partners in red and other major partners in yellow

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

6 The Program also assisted in the filming and production of a Japanese science documentary on the plight of the Tasmanian devil. The documentary was screened in Japan in 2014 and viewed by over 10 million people. The devil also featured significantly an episode of the Dutch nature-based TV series Freek Vonk in Australia in January 2014. The series aired on the Dutch public channel in September 2014 and was viewed by half a million viewers. Further news and awareness promotion was The partnership with the zoo community was undertaken via the Program’s Facebook page. From 1 strengthened by the Program’s attendance at the July 2013 to the end of December 2014, there were 74 Australasian Zoo and Aquarium Association AGM and posts, including videos and photos, and the number of Symposium in New Zealand. Scientific staff attended page ‘likes’ increased from 8,719 to 10,414. a range of national and international conferences The Program responded to a significant number of including the International Mammalogical Society inquiries from local, national and international media, Conference, Belfast, UK; the Australasian Wildlife covering a range of general and special interest stories. Management Society Annual Conference, NZ; the It also coordinated and managed several significant National Island Arks Symposium, Hobart; the media events including news coverage of the release Australian Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference, Hobart; of devils on Maria Island and the launch of the the National NRM Conference, Launceston; and the Ambassador Devil program. The placement of devils World Parks Congress in . at San Diego Zoo and Albuquerque BioPark in North Finally, the Program and ZAA facilitated an industry America, and Wellington Zoo, Auckland Zoo and Orana forum in October 2014 targeting zoo keepers and Wildlife Park in New Zealand, also sparked national and captive devil researchers. Support was also provided to international interest. industry partners through the provision of resources The Program participated in the filming of several and collateral to support separate zoo-based programs international documentaries which screened in France, throughout Australia and overseas. the UK, Australia, Holland and Japan. The most significant of these with respect to the Program’s investment of staff time, was the filming of a six-part mini-series for the ABC on the introduction of devils to Maria Island, Devil Island. The series screened in the UK and France in late 2013 where it was watched by an estimated 11 million viewers, and then on ABC TV in Australia in early 2014 before being released for sale on DVD.

2013-14 Annual Program Report

7 Insurance Population sub-program

The work of the Insurance Population (IP) sub-Program born in the 2013–14 breeding season. addresses Action 3 of the Recovery Plan: Maintain and manage the insurance population. This sub-Program continues to be a vital component of the efforts to save the Tasmanian devil. An updated Tasmanian Devil Captive Management Plan 2014–18 was finalised in 2014. The IP is managed under this strategy which is endorsed by the STDP and all ZAA members who participate in the program. The Annual Report and Recommendations, which is issued in December each year, reports against the goals of the captive management plan. In addition the Tasmanian Devil Husbandry Guidelines were revised and finalised in 2013. These guidelines underpin the husbandry management of all devils in the Insurance Population, including the animals held in overseas institutions as part of the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program. There are currently 31 zoos and fauna parks in Australia which are part of the IP, and a further five zoos and wildlife parks overseas that participate in the Ambassador Program. The Program is grateful for the support the institutions listed on page 9 provide by managing IP devils at their facilities

Tasmanian Captive Management Update

Program staff involved in the captive management of devils held as part of the Insurance Population in both the north and south of the state were kept busy over the past 18 months, implementing integrated management plans for all captive Tasmanian devils – a The outstanding success of the Insurance Population priority one activity under the Recovery Plan for the sub-program continues. IP managers are working species. towards reliable and consistent breeding within space Expansion limitations, capacity having been reached in 2012. Further expansion of the Cressy Intensive Management The Program no longer needs to hold every devil in site is planned for early 2015. The expanded site will a breeding scenario and so the goal over the coming include a new quarantine area comprising an additional 12 months is to ensure that those animals that have 14 animal pens. not bred before and are three years of age, and those individuals whose genetics are most required, are The main area of the Cressy site will also receive an given breeding opportunities. The meta-population, upgrade with eight temporary animal pens being which includes devils on Maria Island and those held replaced with permanent structures. Overall, the Cressy in institutions overseas, has grown to 702 individuals – site will have the potential to house a population of with 610 of these animals in the Insurance Population around 100 devils compared to the current 60. itself. Contributing to this growth were the 132 joeys

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

8 At Taroona, expansion works were undertaken in contribution from the Tasmanian Government, Devil September 2014. These included completion of a new Island Project Inc. co-funded the construction of four food preparation area and a new designated vet area. Free Range Enclosures (FREs), also known as ‘Devil Islands’. The STDP manages these enclosures, the first of which was built in 2008, with the remaining three constructed between 2011 and 2014. The FREs are located on the Freycinet Peninsula, at Bicheno, Bridport and in Launceston. The 2013–14 breeding season was successful at the two FREs in which breeding was attempted. At the Freycinet FRE seven juveniles were born from three mothers. At the Bicheno FRE seven juveniles were born from three mothers, with six of the babies being female. From the 2014–15 breeding season there were only three pouch young from two mothers at Freycinet, Free Range Enclosures (FREs) with 15 babies detected in the pouches of five females at Bicheno. At the Bridport FRE, four of the 13 adult A priority one activity from the Tasmanian devil females trapped were recorded with pouch young in Recovery Plan is to: Establish disease-free devil April 2014; by July the team was able to identify seven groups in large free-range enclosures on mainland of the 14 adult females as having pouch young – 19 Australia and in Tasmania, and on islands and pouch young in total. This number was confirmed in isolated peninsulas in Tasmania. With a significant the last trip of this period.

Zoos and Wildlife Parks in Australia Altina Wildlife Park Featherdale Wildlife Park Australia Zoo Gorge Wildlife Park TCSA - Taronga Western Plains Zoo TCSA - Taronga Zoo Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park Trowunna Wildlife Park WILD LIFE Caversham Wildlife Park Lone Pine Sanctuary Zoos SA - Adelaide Zoo Cleland Wildlife Park Moonlit Sanctuary Zoos SA - Monarto Zoological Park Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary National Zoo and Aquarium Zoos Vic - Devil Ark Peel Zoo Zoos Vic - Devils@Cradle Perth Zoo Dreamworld Rainforestation Nature Park

Zoos and Wildlife Parks Overseas Albuquerque BioPark USA San Diego Zoo USA Auckland Zoo NZ Wellington Zoo NZ Orana Wildlife Park NZ

2013-14 Annual Program Report

9 Trapping activities in January 2015 will provide further practice and designed to ensure that: information of numbers of weaned young at all FREs. • the benefit to the recovery activities for Quarterly trapping trips were also conducted in the FREs Tasmanian devils is maximised to establish and review the health status of devils, to • only animals not required for the genetic needs record any physical changes (distinctive features) that of the Insurance Population are involved could assist with identifying devils during camera reviews. • ownership of the devils remains with the Tasmanian Government • husbandry and facilities are excellent and that only world-class zoos with a commitment to conservation programs are involved, and • the intention of the placement is for advocacy and awareness, not breeding The Ambassador Program was developed in close consultation with ZAA, and the Association played a central role in providing the program’s day-to-day management. The pilot project was limited to the North American and Australasian regions, with 20 devils from the Insurance Population being available for placement. Applications The fourth FRE (also known as Tasmania Zoo Devil were assessed by an expert panel, with two facilities in Island Four) just outside of Launceston began North America selected (San Diego Zoo and Albuquerque operations with the arrival of seven male devils in BioPark) and three in New Zealand (Wellington Zoo, December 2014. The group of males will be held until Auckland Zoo and Orana Wildlife Park). mid-2015 when it is intended they will be translocated into the wild.

Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program

A priority one activity from the Recovery Plan for the Tasmanian devil is: Maintain and if necessary recruit and increase the capacity of suitable existing facilities in Tasmanian wildlife parks and ZAA zoos, and if required export (on loan) captive devils to suitable overseas facilities. The devils involved will be provided with the best care With the successful establishment of the Insurance possible, which is also a significant resource support Population, the Program has been able to investigate for the conservation effort in Australia, allowing the opportunities for helping with the care of animals Insurance Population to be run with greater efficiency. not genetically critical to the Program, while also The pilot was endorsed as a success and the contributing to the conservation effort for Tasmanian Ambassador Program is being implemented as a devils within Australia. permanent program. During 2014–15 the Ambassador Over 2013–14 a pilot project was conducted to look Program is being expanded to include other regions at the feasibility of placing suitable animals in world- (Europe) as well as exploring further opportunities in class zoos as ‘ambassadors’. The Tasmanian Devil North America. Ambassador Program is based on international best

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

10 FOCUS ON: Contraception Project

The zoo breeding program for Tasmanian devils has Two sites were used for this pilot: females were formed a significant component of the species Recovery contracepted at Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo, Plan. Paradoxically, breeding success has meant the and males at the DPIPWE facility at Taroona, Hobart. Program now faces the challenge of how to effectively The pilot project showed that contraception was manage devils to prevent over-population within the effective in female Tasmanian devils, although Insurance Population. questions remain about minimum dosage. Unexpectedly, the contraceptive implants caused an increase in testosterone in male Tasmanian devils, and so are not suitable for the ongoing management of males.

A pilot contraception project was approved by the Meta-population Advisory Committee (MAC) in May 2013. Work commenced in December 2013 and was completed in August 2014, and was undertaken in collaboration with a team led by the University of Sydney’s Dr. Cathy Herbert (see p.24). The aim of the pilot was to determine the potential use of a long- acting contraceptive implant to manage breeding in captive/ intensively managed female devils. Devils were chosen based on their genetic profile so that diversity was maximised even though reproductive The project is continuing in 2015 with the aim of output was reduced. Trials involved comparisons of the assessing the effectiveness of contraception implants in relative efficiency of two contraceptive dosages, while female Tasmanian devils in FREs and on Maria Island. behavioural impacts, if any, on treated animals were The long-term aim is to develop a standard operating also assessed. procedure for the management of breeding within the For male devils, there was an additional aim of Insurance and introduced populations, especially in determining if contraceptives could facilitate group free-living populations in which there is no other way housing of male devils no longer required for breeding. to control which animals breed.

2013/14 Annual Program Report

11 Monitoring and Management sub-Program

Directly addressing Recovery Plan Action 2: Manage Of these ten sites, the Program monitors eight, and threats in the wild, as well as Action 4: Monitor researchers from the monitor Tasmanian devils, this sub-program provides for two. The eight sites monitored by the Program were management of Tasmanian devil populations in the trapped between April and August 2014 and the two wild and the monitoring of those populations. Some of sites monitored by the University of Tasmania were the specific activities undertaken by this busy area of trapped in November and December 2014. the Program during the past 18 months include: All sites were trapped for seven nights using 40 trap Annual Monitoring sites that mirrored historical sites to allow a direct comparison from year to year. An Annual Monitoring program was started in 2014. Ten sites around the state will be trapped over the next five years to determine the status of the devil population at each and whether the trend of that population is towards extinction, stabilisation or recovery. The sites were chosen to provide good representation – to cover sites for which there is historical data to compare the trend across time, and to gain information from sites which have been diseased for different lengths of time. This includes two sites that are currently not diseased.

Location of Annual Monitoring sites around Tasmania If the non-diseased and recently diseased sites are The ten sites being monitored are: removed from analysis, there is a remarkably similar trend in abundance and disease prevalence in the other • Bronte Park sites (see below). Most of these sites have been diseased • Buckland for some time and seem to have settled into a level of • Fentonbury stability suggesting persistence. • Freycinet • Granville Harbour • Kempton • Mt William • Narawntapu • Takone • Woolnorth

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

12 public frequently report not only of road-killed devils, but also diseased devils. The presence of DFTD on the west coast in the Little Henty area was detected through this method.

Number of devils and number of diseased devils caught at each of the eight sites trapped by the Program.

Data is currently being analysed to ensure that the Program is collecting the information required to answer questions which may be posed over the next five years. Maria Island Update

Disease-Front Monitoring Following the successful establishment and breeding of devils released in 2012, a second release was Due to the limited knowledge gained from annual undertaken in October and November 2013. ZAA disease-front trapping trips, the knowledge available recommended the animals to be released include a mix from other projects trapping on the disease front of devils from the Insurance Population, from mainland quarterly, and the availability of University students Australia and Tasmania. Veterinary officers from the trapping devils and providing data on disease presence, Program worked with vets and keepers from the various in 2013 the Program made the decision to conduct facilities to conduct behaviour and health tests on the disease-front trapping trips only every second year, shortlisted animals. rather than annually. Tasmanian-sourced devils came from Trowunna The Program’s one disease-front trapping trip for the Wildlife Park and the Program’s FREs. 2013–14 period was undertaken in November 2013 Mainland animals were sourced from Healesville and was conducted ahead of the last known disease Sanctuary in and Monarto Zoo in South case, which at that time was west of Lileah. Two teams Australia, and then transported to Halls Gap Zoo in of three people undertook the trapping at Togari and Victoria where they spent a month in quarantine. Christmas Hills. A total of 131 individual devils were trapped across the two sites over the seven days of Thirteen animals were finally released in two stages on trapping. Both populations appeared to be healthy, Maria Island in 2013. The first release was conducted with full age complement, high abundance, good in late October 2013 with the assistance of the Save the reproductive output and with the animals caught found Tasmanian Devil Appeal and donors, who were lucky to be in very good condition. No clinical signs of DFTD enough to participate in the release of a Tasmanian- were found in either population. sourced animal. Funds raised from this event covered the cost of the flight to bring mainland-sourced devils A secondary form of disease-front monitoring has animals to the island, which occurred a week later in developed with the expanded use of the Devil Mobile. early November 2013. With greater awareness of the issue, members of the

2013-14 Annual Program Report

13 The release site at Four Mile Creek was chosen by Parks Camera data, which includes one year pre-release and and Wildlife staff in consultation with the Program one year post-release, is currently being analysed to to provide a shorter transit time from the airstrip, determine site occupancy and detection probability of thus minimising stress on the animals. The site has selected species. a clear flowing stream and supplementary food was Impacts on the introduced Cape Barren goose provided for the first couple of months. Monitoring population have been significant, with no successful indicated that most animals were maintaining good breeding detected in 2014. This was a predicted body condition in the early weeks after release, with the outcome, and monitoring is ongoing, with planning exception of one smaller second-release animal, which being undertaken should mitigation be required. was given a week in the pens at Darlington to feed and Importantly, Cape Barren goose populations across gain condition before being re-released. areas of Tasmania (where they exist naturally) are considered stable. Management of the devil population will be ongoing and will include contraception of selected females in 2015 to balance genetic diversity within the population. If successful, this tool may be used to slow breeding rates on the island in the future. In addition, as the population increases towards carrying capacity, individuals are likely to be selected for ‘wild to wild’ introduction on mainland Tasmania. Triggers for any such removal would be based on either a noted decline in devil body condition across the population or of With very high breeding rates achieved, the individual devils, unacceptable ecological impacts establishment of devils on Maria Island can be judged a on Maria Island fauna, or negative interactions with success. Depending on the survival of new individuals tourists. The information which will allow assessment in the population, the total number of devils on Maria of these factors will be provided by ongoing monitoring Island as of late 2014 is likely to be between 80–90 by the Program, and through engagement with animals. The November 2014 trapping trip caught partners and park users. and micro-chipped a total of eight second-generation animals, representing devils from both releases as well Monitoring and Management staff are also key as first-generation animals. contributors to activities undertaken as part of the Wild Management program (see below). Various monitoring surveys focusing on vulnerable species were established prior to the original devil introduction. These have continued during the devil establishment phase with island-wide camera surveys, Cape Barren goose and Tasmanian native hen counts, eagle breeding surveys and little penguin and short-tailed shearwater colony survey work. In addition, analysis of fur, bone and feather remains from over 100 devil scats indicates that a variety of prey species, both native and introduced, have been used by the devils.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

14 Wild Management

Wild Devil Recovery Project immunisation strategies for use in wild population management. The project is comprised of four main On 23 November 2014 the Tasmanian Minister for elements: Environment, Parks and Heritage Matthew Groom, • North-east devil population assessment announced a refocusing of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program towards population monitoring, • Strategies to rebuild wild populations field research, and research and development into • Field trials of immunisation viability in devils, possible immunisation techniques. This initiative is and to be supported with funding from the Australian Government. • Wild devil management The work will require a better understanding of The North-east devil population assessment will the status and condition of wild devil populations, provide a detailed evaluation of the status and development of options to reduce other threats to condition of the wild devil populations in north-east Tasmanian devils (such as road kill), engagement Tasmania, as well as critical information to inform with community groups and key stakeholders to future management decisions for this area and other mitigate threats, and the development of techniques compromised wild devil populations. to successfully reintroduce devils into existing wild Strategies to rebuild wild populations will investigate populations. approaches to bolster diseased devil populations, including augmenting long-term diseased populations.

Field trials of immunisation viability in devils, undertaken in collaboration with the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, will provide a ‘proof of principle’ for a vaccine developed to provide Tasmanian devils with immunity to DFTD. The project will involve the assessment of the performance of immunised devils released into a well-known wild population; in an environment that has few other threats, such as road kill. The Wild devil management project will bring the This project directly addresses key actions 1, 2, 4 and findings of the other projects together, and apply them 5 in the Recovery Plan, through the development of to a pilot scale demonstration of a Wild Devil Recovery techniques to manage diseased populations of devils Zone at Mt William National Park (wukalina). The in the wild in Tasmania and a significant trial of

2013-14 Annual Program Report

15 project will develop strategies to protect, augment and techniques, this data indicates it is very unlikely that rebuild the devil population of the pilot site. Threats to devils persist on the peninsula. The original devil devils will be identified and relevant community groups population residing on the Forestier Peninsula was will be engaged to support mitigation efforts. heavily infected with DFTD; therefore, if there are no devils left, there is no DFTD either. At the completion of the project knowledge from the Program will be applied to establish Wild Devil An infrared camera survey at the end of 2013 indicated Recovery Zones across Tasmania, with the objective of that a small population of devils (around 19) resided on establishing a sustainable and ecologically functional the Tasman Peninsula. During 2014 monitoring staff population of Tasmanian devils in the wild. conducted eight trapping surveys on the peninsula; 18 adults and 2 juveniles of the estimated 23 adults and 20 juveniles were trapped (typically on multiple occasions) Peninsula Devil Conservation Project and on examination exhibited no signs of DFTD. This indicates that the small population of devils on the The Program’s Peninsula Devil Conservation Project Tasman Peninsula is likely to be DFTD-free and will (previously known as the Tasman Isolation Project) is provide the nucleus for establishing a larger population. working to secure a DFTD-free population of devils In an effort to reduce the risk of diseased devils re- on the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas in south-east infecting these peninsulas, the Program has installed Tasmania. The project directly addresses the Recovery approximately 800 m of devil-deterrent fencing along Plan activity: Establish disease-free devil groups in Annie Street, Dunalley. This replaces fencing destroyed large free-range enclosures on mainland Australia and in the 2013 bushfire, and so has also contributed to in Tasmania, and on islands and isolated peninsulas the local recovery effort. Program staff are designing in Tasmania. The population will be managed as part and testing other barriers and deterrents to devils for of the DFTD-free insurance meta-population, and once installation on the highway and intertidal zones. These established will become the first wild-living population deterrents include road grids, animal activated lights, within their natural range that are bio-secured from and other features that will not dramatically impinge DFTD. on the use of the area. The planned completion of this buffer zone is July 2015.

During 2014 two infrared camera surveys, with a combined survey effort of 3580 ‘camera nights’, were conducted to look for devils on the Forestier Peninsula (depopulated by the Program in 2012). The surveys detected no devils. Although still requiring verification through additional surveys using cameras and other

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

16 An infrared camera survey of devils in the Dunalley The Roadkill Project and Copping area (north of the buffer zone) from August–September 2014 found that devils are widely The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Roadkill distributed across the area, albeit at very low density Project was implemented in 2009. The number of devils as a result of the DFTD-induced population decline. killed on roads is a statewide problem and can be a key Nineteen individual devils were identified in 230 km2, (additional) threatening process for devil populations including two devils with symptoms indicative of already under threat from DFTD. As such mitigation DFTD infection. The Program is currently considering of this threat is a particularly important tool for use in management options to reduce the risk that this supporting the Wild Devil Recovery project. Members diseased devil population poses to establishing a DFTD- of the community are encouraged to report Tasmanian free population on the Peninsula. devils killed on roads through a number of options including reply-paid forms, email, phone and SMS services to the Devil Mobile (0427 733 511), and an online report form (see www.tassiedevil.com.au).

In 2013 the use of the Devil Mobile was significantly expanded to incorporate reporting (and potential response) to other devil interactions (see Pp. 18- 19 Devil Interactions). To support this activity the Program staff have been engaging with the community Program is very thankful for assistance from colleagues on the Peninsula and in the Dunalley area. Activities in the Parks and Wildlife Service, Bonorong Wildlife have included attending or presenting at the Bream Sanctuary and community-based wildlife carers and Creek Show, Dunalley Science (Week) Expo, Tasman volunteers. University of the Third Age, the Tasman Wildlife Expo, Nubeena High School, the Port Arthur Talks series and Tasman Council. The Program has also given opportunities to several local volunteers, and to volunteers further afield, through WildCare’s Friends of the Tasmanian Devil group. Details of the reintroduction project were also presented at the Australasian Wildlife Management Society’s annual conference in November 2013, and were enthusiastically received.

2013-14 Annual Program Report

17 The Program received 448 reports of individual road- monitoring roadkill along ten km of road, with the killed devils in the 18 months to 31 December 2014. Virtual Fencing devices protecting four km of road The highest number of reports were received over the within the test area. Monitoring began in November months of December– March, (combined 2013–14 2013, before Virtual Fencing devices were installed. data), a consistent annual trend which aligns with Following the installation of Virtual Fencing devices seasonal peaks in juvenile dispersal and an increase in in February, a dramatic drop in roadkill was recorded, traffic volume over the summer months. Of the total with early results showing the effectiveness of the individual road-killed devils reported, 57 per cent of Virtual Fencing product on all wildlife, not only devils. these occurred over these five months during the 18 With funding support from Save the Tasmanian Devil month reporting period. Program Appeal, Virtual Fencing will soon be trialled at other sites around the state.

Virtual Fencing Devil Interactions Mitigating other threats, such as roadkill, is an identified activity from the Recovery Plan: Conduct In addition to reports of road-killed devils, many specific research into the extent and magnitude of other calls were made to the Devil Mobile. These often impact of non-disease threats and effectiveness of involved the discovery of devils living under houses mitigation methods as required. Mitigating roadkill in in semi-urban areas, most frequently during summer high incidence areas can be a difficult task, with few when females are denning and weaning their young. options available – until recently. In early 2014 the Just one example of a happy outcome for home owner Sydney-based company Wildlife Safety Solutions began and devil can be seen in a story the Program calls the a trial of a product known as Virtual Fencing, which Accidental Conservationist. had shown great success in mitigating wildlife roadkill in Europe and in the USA. A trial site was chosen in north-west Tasmania, selected for the high levels of reports of roadkill from the area. The trial involved

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

18 Results over one year with Virtual Fencing in place on Arthur River Rd, north-west Tasmania

In September 2014 Robert from Cygnet contacted the earlier than usual birth period. After identifying the Devil Mobile to report strange noises under his floor. source of the noises, Robert was happy to allow the The Program installed cameras at strategic locations devil family to stay until dispersal. and checked the footage after a week, revealing a Other calls were more serious but likewise have had healthy mother devil and her three playful young. happy outcomes for the devils involved. One such is The devils were regularly using the underfloor area of the tale of ‘Savage’ the devil, which occurred in May Robert’s house as a den and another adult devil also 2014. A worker from the Savage River Mine called the visited the entrance whilst the cameras were active. Of Devil Mobile late one evening after being notified by a particular note was that the young devils were fairly member of the public of an injured devil nearby. The advanced for the time of year, possibly indicating an worker and a colleague immediately went out to find the animal and managed to trap it. The injured devil was identified as DFTD-free, but was an old male that had seen a hard bush life. As photos were later to prove, the devil (soon to be christened Savage) was indeed missing one eye (an old injury) and was quite grizzled. One of the mine managers drove Savage to the vet at Wynyard – a trip of several hours, late at night. The next morning the vet advised that the only injury to Savage was a dislocated hip, which was put back into place under anaesthetic. Savage was also cleared of any obvious DFTD symptoms. Savage’s post-operative care was provided by Central North Wildlife Care and Rescue at Forthside, where he was driven to by staff

2013-14 Annual Program Report

19 from the PWS Ulverstone Field Centre. After a week of rehabilitation, Savage was chauffeured home by staff from Grange Resources (which runs the Savage River Mine). This incident is noteworthy for the help freely provided by the large group of people involved – miners, managers, veterinarians, carers, and staff from the Parks and Wildlife Service and the STDP, who all worked together to find a positive solution for an old devil.

Savage the devil being released by Savage River Mine employees. Nick Mooney with devil and devil trap at the workshop.

Following this incident, and that of “Larry” in July also had the opportunity to discuss how prescriptions 2014 (see Focus On, p. 21), the STDP, in collaboration around mining developments, as they relate to devils, with the Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council can be managed. coordinated a workshop for Tasmanian mining A video camera which was set in the area of the mine companies about how their operations and devils can during this workshop picked up footage of a fit looking co-exist. Savage (identifiable by his one eye) feasting on a carcase – a great conclusion to the incident for all involved. Mining Workshop

Held on 26–27 August 2014, the purpose of the workshop was to engage with mining companies and to discuss how they can contribute to devil management on and near mine sites. Attendees from seven different companies heard presentations and participated in demonstrations on topics such as the biology of the devil (demography, ecology, dens), devil tracks and traces, monitoring techniques, an explanation of what DFTD is and how it affects devils, other diseases to which devils are susceptible, roadkill and other threats, and how to process camera data. Workshop attendees Savage the devil feasts on a carcase.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

20 FOCUS ON: Mine shafts

In July 2014 a young Tasmanian devil was rescued by After nearly two weeks in care, Larry had put on weight Parks and Wildlife Service field staff from a derelict and appeared to be recovering from his ordeal. He was mining pit at the Warrawee Conservation Area south released after being given a clean bill of health from a of Latrobe. The devil had fallen about five metres into vet and microchipped, so that if he is ever trapped by the muddy pit and was looking very bedraggled when the Program in the future his history and background discovered by a field officer who was recording the will be known. location of the remnants of decades-old mining activity. Since that time, the Program and PWS have been After contacting the Save the Tasmanian Devil working closely with Environmental Assessment Program, PWS Leven Field Centre staff responded with Officers from Mineral Resources Tasmania (MRT), a ladder, ropes and harness and rescued the lucky devil investigating how to make mine ventilation shafts that came to be known as ‘Larry’. After being rescued and sub-surface pits in key locations around the state Larry was immediately taken into care by the Central safer for animals. Funding has been secured by MRT North Wildlife Care and Rescue Group and responded for this work and planning is progressing to develop well to treatment, despite having some minor medical an assessment method for each site. The assessment problems. will include a scoring system to establish the likelihood that wildlife could fall in to a pit based on terrain, habitat and other factors; the chance a fallen animal could get out, which will vary from species to species; the chance of injury; feasibility for mitigation at the site; the establishment of the scale of works required to undertake such mitigation; and the need for mitigation when the risk to humans is also factored in. The heritage value of individual sites will also be considered. As with the cooperative effort to save Savage, the rescue of Larry and the ensuing work undertaken to begin to make mine shafts safer for animals has revealed the enthusiasm and support the Program frequently receives from colleagues and the community.

2013/14 Annual Program Report

21 Research and Collaboration

Research into the disease and potential methods of During the reporting period, the Program supported managing it directly address the threatening process 19 external researchers by providing biological material for Tasmanian devils in the wild, and is a key action such as blood, DNA and tissue. Samples are stored in from the Recovery Plan: Improve knowledge of the the Tasmanian Devil Bio Archive (see Focus On, below) disease and translate to management actions. and access is granted via the Molecular Research Advisory Panel (MRAP). The principal criterion used A number of institutions are engaged in significant by the MRAP to assess applications is the project’s research programs, all of which support collaborative potential to contribute to devil recovery. In line with research with the Program. This group includes the this, researchers using material from the Bio Archive Animal Health Laboratory at Mt Pleasant in Launceston contributed information and developed tools for which has a key role in providing diagnostic support managing wild and captive devils. Areas of research to the Program and external collaborators, monitoring included avenues for making the disease recognisable the evolution of DFTD, providing laboratory support for to the devil’s immune system, which is an important collaborative research, and conducting research into step in developing a vaccine; and understanding how disease prevention and treatment (see Animal Health the disease affects the population genetic diversity of Laboratory, below). wild devils and potential mitigation strategies. The Program provides some direct financial support to major projects conducted by the Menzies Institute for Medical Research and the University of Sydney, and Menzies Institute of Medical Research significant in-kind support to all research partners. In addition, the Program enables collaborative research A part of the University of Tasmania, the Menzies with any suitable institution that can demonstrate Institute has a centre for studies into DFTD and vaccine relevance and justify access to its resources. The research led by Professor Greg Woods. STDP website outlines opportunities for researchers, facilitated through the Captive Research Advisory Group (for access to the Insurance Population) and the Molecular Research Advisory Panel (for access to archived biological material).

Animal Health Laboratory (Mt Pleasant)

DPIPWE’s Animal Health Laboratory team at Mt Pleasant examines samples such as blood, faeces and tissue from wild and captive devils, and devil carcasses including those killed on roads. Over 70 samples were analysed in the reporting period, the results of which have informed the overall health and DFTD status of devils. The team has continued their investigations into the chromosomal arrangement and gene sequence of devils and DFTD, and into development of a pre-clinical diagnostic test. Both areas of research will contribute to devil recovery by informing genetic management of the species, and providing a means to diagnose the disease before it becomes visible and contagious, a priority activity in the Recovery Plan.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

22 The research to date strongly supports that under the Program. University of Sydney researcher Catherine right conditions, Tasmanian devils can produce an Grueber (see below, p. 24) is also supported by the immune response against DFTD cells. The challenge is SDZG. to use this to produce a vaccine. Part of this research will be trialled in the Wild Devil Recovery Project. The Menzies Institute also supports the Program University of by providing much needed veterinary and tumour Tasmania analysis work, as well as providing a crucial link with international scientists working in the field of DFTD In addition to the research. collaborations formed with scientists at the Menzies Institute, researchers at the University of Tasmania’s San Diego Zoo School of Biological Sciences also contribute to Global (SDZG) knowledge of devils and of DFTD through studies on co-evolution of the devil and the disease, ecological San Diego Zoo Global research, as well as the contribution of field data. is a conservation Research undertaken by Dr Menna Jones and her organisation dedicated collaborators include a project to determine whether to the science of saving endangered species worldwide. rapid evolution is occurring in the wild, and a project to San Diego Zoo Global operates three facilities: the San assess the impacts of DFTD on nuclear genetic diversity Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo , and the San in the Tasmanian devil. Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. The team led by Professor Chris Johnson and Dr Menna SDGZ is partnering with the Program, the University Jones has also contributed to work undertaken by of Sydney, and the Zoo and Aquarium Association to Professor Kathy Belov of the University of Sydney. (See develop the first landscape-scale management action Pp. 27-28 Case Study) designed to save the Tasmanian devil in the wild. The aim is to ensure that the research discovered one day in the lab can be applied directly in the field the next. Devil Island Project Using the latest monitoring tools and next-generation Inc. technologies, this project will develop a series of applied management actions. These will be integrated with Devil Island Project Inc. has standard operating procedures to establish Tasmanian worked with the Program devil reserves across Tasmania, including landscape to deliver projects of direct isolation projects on peninsulas and insurance benefit to the conservation populations on islands and in zoos. of Tasmanian devils. The Each collaborator brings a wealth of expertise to the Tasmanian Government and project – SDZG being internationally renowned for Devil Island Project Inc. co-funded the construction their work on reintroductions, translocations and of four Free Range Enclosures (FREs), also known as management of small populations. ‘Devil Islands’. With the last Devil Island to be opened in the near future, Devil Island Project Inc. is working Further, in 2015 SDZG is also providing support for an on developing further projects of benefit. intern to work with STDP for 18 months, contributing to the Wild Devil Recovery project. This support is the result of the relationship established with the San Diego Zoo through the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador

2013-14 Annual Program Report

23 Researchers manage highly valued Australian animals over many years. Catherine manages the contraception trials on Individual researchers, some affiliated with partner Tasmanian devils in the Insurance Population (see institutions, have contributed greatly to the Focus On, p. 11). advancement of knowledge about devils and DFTD. Tracy Rogers Just a few of the contributors in the area of scientific research are listed below. Associate Professor Tracey Rogers from the University of New South Wales specialises in predator-prey Catherine Grueber interactions. The common thread of her diverse areas Dr Catherine Grueber joined the Faculty of Veterinary of research is the attempt to understand how mammals Science at the University of Sydney in February respond to change. Tracey has recently co-authored a 2014 as a San Diego Zoo Global post-doctoral fellow. paper about the devils on Maria Island, Survival success Broadly, Catherine’s work reveals how evolutionary and and foraging behaviour of captive-raised Tasmanian population processes affect individual and population devil founders two years post release of assisted level genetic diversity of threatened species. Catherine colonisation program, which will be published in 2015. aims to develop new techniques for measuring and Elizabeth Murchison mitigating loss of diversity in conservation. In her current position, Catherine is working with San Diego Dr Elizabeth Murchison is a Reader in Comparative Zoo Global in collaboration with the ZAA and the Oncology and Genetics at Cambridge University STDP in a project targeted toward applied conservation working in the area of genetics, evolution and host management of the Tasmanian devil. interactions of clonally transmissible cancers, in particular the devil facial tumour disease. Elizabeth has worked for several years with the Program to catalogue the genetic changes that have accumulated in tumours collected from geographically diverse locations. Her talk titled “Fighting a contagious cancer”, given as part of the popular TEDx series, may be viewed at https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_murchison

The project uses the latest next-generation sequencing technologies to learn how patterns of genetic diversity can be best maintained in the Insurance Population. Catherine will focus on understanding founder relationships, comparing Insurance Population diversity to wild animals, and combining molecular and pedigree-based captive breeding protocols to retain maximal diversity of released animals.

Catherine Herbert Hannah Siddle Dr Catherine Herbert is a member of the Faculty of Dr Hannah Siddle received her PhD in genetics and Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney and has evolutionary genomics under Professor Kathy Belov researched the role of contraceptive implants to help at the University of Sydney. She is now a lecturer

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

24 in Molecular Biology at the Centre for Biological Internships and volunteers Sciences, University of Southampton and has worked on a number of research projects related to DFTD. Over the past 18 months the Save the Tasmanian From 2009–11 Hannah was an NHMRC Overseas Devil Program has taken advantage of highly skilled post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of graduates and undergraduates wishing to donate their Pathology at the University of Cambridge, researching time and knowledge to work with the Program and MHC molecule expression by Devil Facial Tumour contribute to saving the Tasmanian devil. There have Disease and is the co-author of more than a dozen been a significant number of volunteers and work papers, including Reversible epigenetic down- experience students across 2013–14, and the following regulation of MHC molecules by devil facial tumour students contributed noteworthy amounts of time disease illustrates immune escape by a contagious and effort to the Program. As part of their work, some cancer (2013). Hannah continues to work with volunteers also undertook projects and produced papers Professor Belov – (see below on p.27, Case Study). on their findings, again supporting knowledge and Kathy Belov understanding of DFTD and Tasmanian devils. When Professor Kathy Belov, from the Faculty of Jacob van der Ploeg Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney, read Jacob is studying for a BSc in Wildlife Management Anne-Maree Pearse and Kate Swift’s pivotal paper at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Allograft theory: Transmission of Devil Facial Tumour Netherlands and volunteered with the Program from Disease in Nature in 2006 she didn’t know that September 2013–February 2014. During his time with her career trajectory was about to shift. Kathy was the Program, Jacob assisted with trapping, infrared immediately captivated by this article as it seemed this camera and scat surveys of devils and carnivores as disease didn’t make sense: a clonal tumour was being part of the Peninsula Devil Conservation project, and passed from animal to animal without invoking an also assisted with an infrared camera survey of fauna immune response. on Maria Island, Cape Barren goose counts in the Furneaux Group, and the servicing of the FREs. Jacob analysed data collected from infrared camera surveys on the Tasman Peninsula to calculate minimum home range size estimates of devils in the area and to evaluate the efficacy of using cameras as a method for doing this. This resulted in an internal report, Minimum home range of Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) on Tasman Peninsula as determined by camera trapping. Jackson Fraeunfelder Kathy had a hunch that the answer could lie within Jackson is studying for a BSc in Environmental the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) so Management at the University of Queensland and joined immediately contacted Dr Stephen Pyecroft who was the Program for a placement from July–October 2014. then heading up the Diagnostics section of DPIPWE’s Jackson assisted with infrared camera surveys on Maria Animal Health Laboratory at Mt Pleasant. This was the Island and for the Peninsula Devil Conservation project, beginning of a collaboration between DPIPWE and the with trapping surveys on the Tasman Peninsula, and University of Sydney which has been in place for eight with the servicing of the Freycinet FRE. Jackson years, and is still going strong. collated and analysed all the images and data from Kathy’s work is discussed in detail as a Case Study on an infrared camera survey of devils in the Dunalley– pages 27-28. Copping area and summarised this in an internal report, Infrared camera survey to determine the

2013-14 Annual Program Report

25 FOCUS ON: Bio Archive

distribution of Tasmanian devils and feral cats in the The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program and its Dunalley area, Tasmania. During his time in Tasmania collaborators (principally the University of Tasmania) Jackson also volunteered on a vegetation survey in the have been collecting devil blood and tissue samples Vale of Belvoir with Tasmanian Land Conservancy. since 1986, and DFTD samples since the late 1990s. This material is maintained in a number of collections. The collections continue to receive samples through the work of the Program and other activities under permit from the Tasmanian Government. Recognising the significance of the material and the value of research that could be made possible by facilitating access to this unique collection, the Program established the position of curator for the collection and is working with partners to secure and optimise the management of the collection. The archive is comprised of collections of: • Devil tissue, sera, blood – 15,500 samples • Tumour cell culture – 2052 samples • Other cell culture (blood, fibroblasts) – 328 samples • Ear biopsy and tumour samples – 15,000 samples Jackson Frauenfelder. • Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) library – the entire genome of two devils Dennis Lefterink These collections represent extremely valuable archives that are used in a wide variety of molecular research. Dennis, who volunteered with the Program from The Program shares these samples with collaborators September–December 2014, has a bachelor’s degree in who use the material for molecular research that Life Sciences obtained at the University of Groningen has the potential to deliver significant conservation (Netherlands). Dennis also has a master’s degree in outcomes for Tasmanian devils. molecular neurosciences, specialising in multiple sclerosis, in which he hopes to obtain a PhD. Dennis became interested in DFTD and devils while working on his bachelor’s degree. He assisted with numerous trapping and infrared camera surveys, as well as helping out with servicing of the FREs. Dennis also spent a week at Melaleuca monitoring orange-bellied parrots with WildCare and the Parks and Wildlife Service.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

26 Case Study: Professor Kathy Belov

Since 2007, Kathy and her team at the University their immune system develops while they are in the of Sydney have had the good fortune to work with a pouch. Immunological factors in the milk and in pouch variety of people involved in the Save the Tasmanian secretions play key roles in protecting immunologically Devil Program and have branched out from naïve pouch young. The team have already identified a immunogenetics to more applied conservation biology. repertoire of powerful novel antimicrobial peptides in the pouch that have the potential to be commercially developed into antibiotics against multi-drug resistant bacteria affecting humans. By working with the team at Devil Ark, Kathy’s team can carefully study changes in immunity in a large group of healthy animals. They perform CT scans, blood tests, molecular genetic tests and hormone assays, and plan to prepare an online encyclopaedia of devil development, as well as documenting the development and ultimate senescence of the immune system. The second area of focus is a large collaborative project An important early collaboration was with Stephen known as ‘Tools and Tech’ with DPIPWE, the Zoo and Pyecroft and Anne-Maree Pearce of DPIPWE, and Aquarium Association and San Diego Zoo. Kathy’s team Greg Woods’ team at the Menzies Institute of Medical are using the latest sequencing technologies to provide Research, to establish that genetic diversity in key genetics data for the Insurance Meta-population – immune genes, called MHC genes, was extremely low that is, all devils managed by the Program and their in devils. The proposal was that this lack of genetic partners, including those on Maria Island. The Program diversity could explain how the tumour could cross - is leading the way in using the latest technologies affect unrelated devils. Team member Hannah Siddle to assist with captive breeding. Kathy shamelessly then went on to work at the University of Cambridge admits that her favourite part of the job is visiting the to show that lack of genetic diversity alone did not wonderful zoos and wildlife parks that are part of the explain the spread. In addition, the tumour had evolved Program and meeting the new devil pups! a strategy to down-regulate cell surface MHC to slip ‘under the radar’ of the devil’s immune system. A new aspect of Kathy’s work In addition to characterising devil immune genes relates to the Wild and immune gene diversity, Kathy’s team (and their Devil Recovery DPIPWE collaborators) have also worked on tumour project. Kathy’s evolution with Tony Papenfuss from the Walter team has analysed and Eliza Hall Institute, Menna Jones’ team at the the genetic University of Tasmania, and Janine Deakin’s team from characteristics the University of Canberra; with Jeremy Austin from of the devil the University of Adelaide on MHC diversity in ancient populations at devil samples; and with Chris Amemiya’s team from the the proposed Benaroya Institute in Seattle on construction of genetic reintroduction libraries. sites. These Now Kathy’s team is focused on two key projects. First, analyses will allow they are looking at how the immune system of devils the Program changes from the “pouch to the grave”. All marsupials to determine are born at a very early stage in development and which devils

2013/14 Annual Program Report

27 would be best suited for reintroduction, with the aim to improve the genetics of the existing populations. In addition, Kathy’s team is able to advise on allele retention rates, which provide information on the rate of reintroductions required to retain genetic diversity. Since 2007 Kathy’s team has included Dr Hannah Siddle, Dr Claire Sanderson, Dr Yuanyuan Cheng, Dr Katrina Morris, Dr Amanda Lane, Dr Catherine Grueber, Dr Emily Wong, Dr Beata Ujvari, Jolanta Marzec, Belinda Wright, Jian Cui, Lauren van der Kraan, Tracey Russell, Emma Peel, Liz Jones, Bec Gooley, Rehana Hawavisenti plus countless vets, Honours students, Masters students and volunteers. This group works tirelessly and its members are all passionate about contributing to saving the Tasmanian devil. Their research is supported by the Australian Research Council, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal and San Diego Zoo Global.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

28 Publications

Nineteen peer-reviewed papers relating to devils were References published in the 18 months prior to January 2015. Bender, H. S., Marshall Graves, J. A., & Deakin, J. These covered a diverse range of areas including the E. (2014). Pathogenesis and Molecular Biology of a devil’s immune system (Howson et al. 2014) and how Transmissible Tumour in the Tasmanian devil. Annu. it interacts with DFTD (Pinfold et al. 2014, Siddle Rev. Anim. Biosci., 2(1), 165-187. and Kauffman 2013); molecular genetics (Cheng and Belov 2014, Kraan et al. 2013, Lane et al. 2013, Ujvari Brüniche-Olsen, A., Jones, M. E., Austin, J. J., Burridge, et al. 2014a); ecology (Hamede et al. 2013, Hollings et C. P., & Holland, B. R. (2014). Extensive population al. 2014); population genetics (Brüniche-Olsen et al. decline in the Tasmanian devil predates European 2014); the Insurance Population (Chuang et al. 2013, settlement and devil facial tumour disease. Biology Hogg 2013, Scheelings et al. 2014, Sinn et al. 2014) and letters, 10(11), 20140619. management of wild devils (Buckmaster et al. 2014, Buckmaster, T., Dickman, C. R., & Johnston, M. J. Ujvari et al. 2014). Three review papers were published (2014). Assessing Risks to Non-Target Species during which summarised knowledge of the disease (Bender Poison Baiting Programs for Feral Cats. PloS one, 9(9), et al. 2014, Morris and Belov 2015, Siddle and Kaufman e107788. 2015). A preliminary internal report was also produced for the Program which outlined a model for estimating Cheng, Y., & Belov, K. (2014). Characterisation of the confidence of absence of devils from the Forestier non-classical MHC class I genes in the Tasmanian Peninsula in relation to survey and removal effort (Van devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Immunogenetics, 66(12), Rossum and Rout 2013). 727-735. The scientific community, in collaboration with the Chuang, L. T., Pinfold, T. L., Hu, H. Y., Chen, Y. S., STDP, has broadly contributed to five recovery actions Schulze, J., Presley, J. M., ... & Glew, R. H. (2013). Fatty- for the Tasmanian devil within the 2013–14 period. acid, amino-acid and mineral composition of two milk Over half of the peer-reviewed publications for this replacers for marsupials. International Zoo Yearbook, period have informed recovery Action 5, which aims 47(1), 190-199. to improve knowledge of the disease and translate this Hamede, R. K., McCallum, H., & Jones, M. (2013). knowledge to management actions. The overarching Biting injuries and transmission of Tasmanian devil translation of the research contributing to Action 5 facial tumour disease. Journal of Animal Ecology, 82(1), into management is development of a vaccine. 182-190. Hogg, C. J. (2013). Preserving Australian native fauna: zoo-based breeding programs as part of a more unified strategic approach. Australian Journal of Zoology, 61(1), 101-108. Hollings, T., Jones, M., Mooney, N., & McCallum, H. (2014). Trophic Cascades Following the Disease-Induced Decline of an Apex Predator, the Tasmanian devil. Conservation Biology, 28(1), 63-75. Howson, L. J., Morris, K. M., Kobayashi, T., Tovar, C., Kreiss, A., Papenfuss, A. T., ... & Woods, G. M. (2014). Identification of dendritic cells, B cell and T cell subsets in Tasmanian devil lymphoid tissue; evidence for poor immune cell infiltration into devil facial tumours. The Anatomical Record, 297(5), 925-938.

2013-14 Annual Program Report

29 Kraan, L. E., Wong, E. S., Lo, N., Ujvari, B., & Belov, K. (2013). Identification of natural killer cell receptor genes in the genome of the marsupial Tasmanian devil (). Immunogenetics, 65(1), 25-35. Lane, A., Wright, B., Hamede Ross, R. K., Cheng, Y., Levan, L., Jones, M., ... & Belov, K. (2013). Healthy and tumour-afflicted Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) do not differ at a key immune-genetic region (MHC class I). PLoS-One. Morris, K. M., & Belov, K. (2015). Cancer Immunology of Transmissible Cancers. In Cancer Immunology (pp. 419-428). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Pinfold, T. L., Brown, G. K., Bettiol, S. S., & Woods, G. M. (2014). Mouse Model of Devil Facial Tumour Disease Establishes That an Effective Immune Response Can be Generated Against the Cancer Cells. Frontiers in Immunology, 5. Scheelings, T. F., Dobson, E. C., & Hooper, C. (2014). CUTANEOUS T-CELL LYMPHOMA IN TWO CAPTIVE TASMANIAN DEVILS (SARCOPHILUS HARRISII). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 45(2), 367-371. Siddle, H. V., & Kaufman, J. (2015). Immunology of naturally transmissible tumours. Immunology, 144(1), 11-20. Siddle, H. V., & Kaufman, J. (2013). How the devil facial tumour disease escapes host immune responses. OncoImmunology, 2(8), e25235. Sinn, D. L., Cawthen, L., Jones, S. M., Pukk, C., & Jones, M. E. (2014). Boldness towards novelty and translocation success in captive-raised, orphaned Tasmanian devils. Zoo biology, 33(1), 36-48. Ujvari, B., Piddington, L., Pearse, A. M., Peck, S., Harmsen, C., Taylor, R., ... & Belov, K. (2014a). Devil Facial Tumour Disease, A Potential Model of the Cancer Stem-Cell Process?. Journal of Veterinary Science (JVet), 1(1). Ujvari, B., Pearse, A. M., Swift, K., Hodson, P., Hua, B., Pyecroft, S., ... & Madsen, T. (2014b). Anthropogenic selection enhances cancer evolution in Tasmanian devil tumours. Evolutionary applications, 7(2), 260-265. Van Rossum, C., & Rout, T. (2013). Depopulation of Tasmanian Devil Habitats. Internal report to the Save The Devil Program.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

30 Performance of the Program to Targets

In July 2013 the previous Business Plan for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program expired. Due to uncertainty in funding, a new Business Plan was not adopted until November 2014. As a result of this there are no formal performance targets established for the period of the Report. The Program has taken the performance measures established for the new Business Plan (2014–2019) and calculated target measures for the reporting period.

Recovery Action (Action number) Metric 2013–14 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 target* actual target target … implement … landscape isolation N of repopulations implemented 0 0 0 1 projects …. (1a) … trial … measures to manage DFTD N of Wild Devil Recovery zones started 0 0 0 0 and other threats … through … in year landscape management practices (1b) [update] guidelines on … habitat Guidelines and proscriptions are current Y Y Y Y requirements … and provide to all (Y/N) agencies regulating activities … related to high and very high threats (2c) … integrated management plans for ARR is current (Y/N) Y Y Y Y all captive Tasmanian devils held at different locations (3a) … adequate … founders to meet N of founders added 0 0 0 insurance population goals, and … % genetic diversity retained >95 99.25 >95 >95 maintain genetic diversity (3b) Maintain … [appropriate] … capacity of N of animals in the IP in Australia* 550 610 550 550 suitable … facilities … and if required N of zoos in Ambassador Program 5 5 10 15 export captive devils ... (3c) Establish disease-free devil groups … N of animals on Maria Island 80 90 80 100 on islands and isolated peninsulas in N of animals on Tasman Peninsula ~20 ~20 ~20 ~20 Tasmania (3d) N of animals on Forestier Peninsula 0 0 0 20 … determine relatedness in devils (3g) Inbreeding coef <0.125 <0.125 0.0061 <0.125 <0.125 Survey for DFTD at appropriate Long Term Monitoring sites surveyed 10 10 10 locations … (4a) in year Study the … devil’s immune system … N of immunised devils rewilded per year 0 0 0 30 including vaccine feasibility ... (5d) Investigate the spatial use of habitat by % rewilded devils surviving first year >50 96† >50 >50 Tasmanian devils (6a) … appropriate oversight of expenditure $m committed by Tasmanian on recovery plan actions (7a) Government 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 $m committed by Australian Government 3.3 3.3†† $m committed by ZAA institutions 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 … recovery team … regularly assess[es] Biennial review conducted (Y/N) ‡ the effectiveness of the recovery Triennial review of tasks and priorities program ... (7b) (Y/N) Y Raise awareness of the threats to the $K contributed by fundraisers (Appeal/ 500 470 500 500 Tasmanian devil ... (8a) DIP) ‡‡ … develop community roadkill N areas with mitigation implemented 1 1 1 2 monitoring and … apply … results (8f) in year * figure includes animals in zoos and wildlife parks in Australia but not IP animals in translocations, landscape isolation projects or the ambassador program † figures derived from Maria Island translocation †† funding provided over a three year period ‡ the recovery plan has yet to be finalised ‡‡ figures provided are for the Appeal only

2013-14 Annual Program Report

31 Devil Dollars

The following table shows how funds received from the State and Federal Governments were invested across the Program in the last two financial years.

Sub-Program 2012–13 ($’000s) 2013–14 ($’000s)

Program Management 882 634

Monitoring and Management (includes Tasman Isolation 1 130 771 and Wild Devil Recovery)

Insurance Population 1 884 1 194

Diagnostics Services and Research 780 347

Total 4 676 2 946

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

32 Where to from here?

Work aimed at maintaining Tasmanian devils in the Institute for Medical Research. The devils chosen will wild in Tasmania has been the major directional also play a key role in a project, supported by San Diego change for the Program over the past eighteen months. Zoo Global, to develop tools to “dampen” the dispersal To date this has been through the establishment of released devils. of DFTD-free populations, and the management of The necessity for wild devil management has been diseased devil populations to ensure that they are more highlighted by the Annual Monitoring program, resilient and sustainable. The Insurance Population has which has confirmed the persistence of devils at all been established and is now able to provide a source long-term monitoring sites. The Devil Mobile has also for repopulation. The Program has developed skills and contributed to our knowledge of disease presence with facilities that can be used to prepare devils for release the confirmation that DFTD has arrived on the west into the wild to give the best chance of adapting to wild coast of Tasmania, in the Henty area north of Strahan, conditions. coming through a “roadkill report”. The Maria Island translocation has succeeded and The next year will see a substantial effort by the the Program is now managing this for the long term. Program to trial the efficacy of Wild Devil Recovery. Contraception techniques are being trialled on devils This will include renewed efforts to reduce the number on the island in order to control the genetic input to of road-killed devils, to mitigate the risks posed by this closed population. mine shafts and to engage with land developers to help The re-wilding of the Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas developments remain safe areas for devils. Progress relies on the protection of the DFTD-free population has been made with the support of Mineral Resources from contact with diseased devils. The physical barrier Tasmania to map, inspect and mitigate the threat of already provided by the township of Dunalley and the disused mine shafts. Denison Canal is being enhanced with a ‘devil-proof’ fence. In addition, deterrents such as sounds (devils, dog barks) and high pressure air ‘guns’ are been trialled for installation on the main road. Devils are very adept at getting around, under, over and through obstacles but the series of buffers will reduce the risk of incursions.

Through the Insurance Population and the Monitoring and Management sub-programs the STDP is well placed to tackle the challenge of Wild Devil Recovery. This action will deliver on the three key objectives of the Save the Tasmania Devil Program: retaining genetic diversity, managing wild devils, and reducing the ecosystem impacts of the loss of devils. The key goal for Planning is underway for the re-wilding of devils into 2015 is to develop further techniques to achieve Wild the north east of Tasmania, an initiative announced by Devil Recovery. the Tasmanian Environment Minister in late 2014. This We look forward to reporting against progress in 12 bold and exciting move is supported by immunisation months’ time. trials undertaken in collaboration with the Menzies

2013-14 Annual Program Report

33 Devil Directory (as at 31 December 2014)

Steering Committee Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Management Group Alistair Scott (Chair), General Manager, Resource Management and Conservation, DPIPWE Dr Howel Williams (Chair), Program Director, STDP, DPIPWE Chris Hibbard, Zoo & Aquarium Association Gary Davies, Manager, Wildlife Management Branch, Peter Latch, Department of Environment (DoE) DPIPWE Nick Mooney, Conservation community member Dr David Pemberton, Program Manager, STDP, Prof Elissa Cameron, Science community member DPIPWE Dr Howel Williams, Program Director, Save the Dr Billie Lazenby, Science Coordinator, STDP, DPIPWE Tasmanian Devil Program Drew Lee, Sub-Program Leader, Insurance Population Dr David Pemberton, Program Manager, Save the Sam Fox, Sub-Program Leader, Monitoring and Tasmanian Devil Program Management Sarah Graham, Senior Communications Consultant Meta-population Advisory Committee

Dr Howel Williams (Chair), Program Director, STDP, DPIPWE Amanda Embury - Australasian Species Management Program Dr Carolyn Hogg - STDP Species Coordinator (ZAA) Drew Lee - STDP Captive Management (DPIPWE) Dr Catherine Grueber - Independent scientific expert (University of Sydney) Peter Latch, Director, Department of Environment (Australian Government)

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

34 2013-14 Annual Program Report

35 WANTED INFORMATION ON TASMANIAN DEVILS CALL OR TEXT THE DEVIL MOBILE 0427 733 511 Report road-killed devil Help us investigate the impact on devils! Report nuisance devils on your propert Let us relocate these devils if necessary! Report devils under your house or sh We can monitor devils by remote camera! Report unusual sightings or movement Let us know what the devils are up to!

Be our eyes and ears, and help us help Tasmanian devils recover in your area!

Signage for the Peninsula Devil Conservation Project (See p.16).

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

36 All photos courtesy of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.

Design by the Land Tasmania Design Unit, DPIPWE