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Home , Tasmanian devil

JUNE 2010 — ISSN 1833-4954

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2 Taking a 6 Our 6 Monster cautious devil appeal approach doctor

Why ? A preliminary Environmental Risk Assessment INSURING A determined there were no indications that devils would significantly impact threatened flora and fauna. Other reasons LONG-TERM include the island’s proximity, as well as the fact that it is managed solely by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, FUTURE allowing ease of access and management.

By ANDREW SHARMAN Island translocations have proved Manager, Save the Tasmanian Devil control over breeding selection, but the successful elsewhere in the world, Program big pay-off is that the devils retain more particularly in New Zealand. Closer of their wild behaviours than is achievable to home, there have been at least o insure the Tasmanian devil against in typical zoo pens. The first FRE, on two successful island translocations Textinction, and to provide a potential ’s east coast, is 12ha. We’ve recently documented in . One source of disease-free for release already had breeding success in that FRE, is the introduction of northern to to the wild, the Save the Tasmanian Devil and work has begun on three larger (20- offshore islands in the Northern Program has been building an Insurance 30ha) FREs. as a conservation response to cane toads. Population. The second is the introduction of a Semi-wild populations of devils can be breeding population of the endangered Our 50-year plan is to maintain a secured on islands, or virtual islands, to Escape Island, in Western disease-free population that is genetically where they are isolated from the Australia. representative of the species, and disease by fences or water. A range of also allows devils to retain their wild potential sites around the State is being People are understandably cautious when behaviours. We’re working towards this investigated by the Program, including it comes to introducing wild animals to goal by setting up a number of secure large-scale fenced areas (many hundreds a landscape that’s outside their natural populations across various sites, which are of hectares) and offshore islands. range. It is generally only considered generally managed in one of three ways… feasible when a species’ normal habitat is The Program is currently investigating threatened. Sadly, the spread of the Devil Intensively managed captive populations the potential to use Maria Island as a Facial Tumour Disease across mainland are kept in typical zoo pens (both in translocation site. The Maria Island Tasmania means that the devil is today Tasmania as well as on the Australian Translocation Project comprises three one such candidate. mainland). This approach is tried and aspects that will be carried out over the tested and has produced lots of joeys. It next 12 months. First, a natural values It is important that before we take gives us maximum control over which and environmental impact assessment this step we carefully consider the males mate with certain females, helping including baseline surveys will inform environmental consequences and put in to preserve the of the whether or not it is appropriate to release place programs to monitor the devils and population. devils onto Maria Island. The second and their impact. I don’t want this column third aspects involve the release of devils to make it sound like we have all the Free Range Enclosures (FREs) are much on the island and ongoing post-release answers. We simply don’t! But we do have larger than zoo pens. FREs give less monitoring and management. a commitment to finding them.

1 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER OFFSHORE ISLANDS

Islands provide a barrier to the transmission of DFTD. Devils that live A CAUTIOUS on islands require less management, so the animals retain their wild APPROACH behaviours.

autious is the word that best describes “The aim of the Program is to save the Cthe Save the Tasmanian Devil Tasmanian devil as a functioning wild ANSWERS AS WELL Program’s approach to the Maria Island species,” Drew said. “This means a Translocation Project. population of animals that requires only AS SANCTUARY little management, and can one day be The Program hopes to release devils on returned to the wild.” he Program’s mission is to maintain the island national park over the next Tthe Tasmanian devil as an ecologically 12 months. Various factors are being “We need to be sure that we have animals functioning species in the ecosystem. The investigated, including the timing, in the ‘bank’ that have retained their wild Maria Island Translocation Project will numbers, source of animals and release behavioural traits. Islands may be just the provide a unique opportunity to really technique. right investment”. understand what being a ‘functioning species’ means for Tasmanian devils. Wildlife biologist Drew Lee said the We know that devils perform important initial stages of services in the ecosystem. These include this project are the removal of carcasses and sick and an information- injured animals, which can help reduce gathering process. the incidence of disease for livestock and It’s the first step wildlife alike. towards realising the long-term goal We know that their presence can help of using islands reduce overgrazing by prey species, as disease-free such as . This helps to prevent sanctuaries. a negative cascading effect, which could see the decline of plant species and the “We’re trying The Maria Island Translocation Project will allow the Program to wildlife that depends on them. to get as much monitor the impact of devils on other species, such as wedge-tailed information as eagles. PHOTO: Jackie Smith We think that devils probably suppress possible before we feral animals such as cats and foxes go ahead with any full-scale translocation. through preying on their young and There are still many unknowns, but this is through direct competition for resources, our chance to learn.” but so far this is based on anecdotal MARIA ISLAND evidence. Monitoring teams are currently surveying all aspects of the Maria Island landscape, Maria Island lies off the east What we don’t know is the critical point including wildlife and heritage sites, in coast of Tasmania, accessed by a at which devil numbers decline so low order to determine the island’s natural short ferry trip. Roughly 20km that these services are no longer relevant values. There’s a particular interest in the in length, the entire Island is in the ecosystem. This situation, for species that may be devil prey, as well as today a National Park – although instance, may already be playing out in other carnivores that may compete for its history includes convict places like Mt William and Freycinet food. settlements, farming enterprises National Parks where Devil Facial Tumour and a cement factory. Other Disease has had the greatest impact. This work will continue after the devils native species introduced to are released, allowing the Program to the Island include brush-tailed “Sometimes the answers to these sorts of detail and manage any population changes possums, common , questions can’t be found without acting that occur in devils and other species. Bennetts wallabies, Forester on an applied level. This Project will The information gained will help us in and Cape Barren add to existing knowledge and provide assessing other islands as possible sites for geese. answers that can only come from practical future translocations. application,” said wildlife biologist Phil Wise.

2 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER JUNE 2010 FREE-RANGE ENCLOSURES

These large-scale areas, enclosed by a double fence, are based on a THREE MORE minimal management approach so that devils retain their wild behaviours. ENCLOSURES At the same time, there’s a degree of control over breeding. ork on a further three Free Range Double fences, designed by wildlife TECHNOLOGY, WEnclosures (FREs) has begun at experts and fencing contractors, are being sites in the north and east of Tasmania, constructed to prevent animals moving NOT HANDS complementing the Bicheno FRE that was in or out of the enclosures – even to stop opened in 2008. contact through the barrier. echnology could be the key to T‘keeping it wild’ for the Tasmanian The three new sites will allow for an “FREs are somewhere in the middle devils within the Free Range Enclosures expansion of the free-range component between intensively-managed populations (FREs). of the Insurance Population. They will and semi-wild island populations,” David also provide the Save the Tasmanian said, “and that’s what makes them so Yes – this statement sounds like a Devil Program with the chance to refine special. contradiction. But wildlife biologist Dr management actions and ideas, said David Sinn said the current focus for wildlife biologist Dr David Sinn. “FREs accept the ethos that devils these enclosures involves finding ways to need to be able to survive in the wild. remotely sensor the animals’ welfare. It’s “The most exciting thing is that we Insurance Population animals need to be hoped that this hands-off approach will can now explore and compare varying maintained, potentially for a long period further allow these animals to retain their approaches,” David said. of time, in a way that allows them to one wild-devil traits. day be reintroduced into the landscape. “Some of the questions raised include the “We’re trying to balance our commitment number of devils we put in the enclosures, “At the same time we’ve retained some to the welfare of these Insurance the ratio between the sexes, and the role control over who mates with whom, as Population devils with the goal of of varying habitats. well as other welfare issues.” preserving their natural behaviours,” David said. “It’s been almost impossible for us to test these issues while working within “To do this, all we really need is a photo of a single FRE. But now we’ll be able to MUM’S each individual, a weight measurement, tweak management methods. We hope it and a microchip reading. If you can get helps us develop an even greater hands-off THE WORD that information every few weeks, then approach.” checks at the Bicheno you can be pretty sure that each devil is FRE have confirmed that all okay. One of the recommendations to come out three females have again bred, of the 12ha Bicheno enclosure was that with 11 new joeys born this year. “But the challenge is to get this future FREs should not be any smaller. information without trapping and Thankfully, several generous individuals That’s a good result because the handling the devils. We don’t want these are allowing us access to their private land girls have only four teats each devils to become used to humans.” for the construction of larger FREs. (or 12 between them). A picture-identification chart has already Near the northern town of Bridport, All of these Mums had breeding been prepared for the devils within the fencing is already going up on a 22ha success in the FRE’s first year Bicheno FRE. It’s used to identify animals FRE, featuring Black Peppermint Forest – as had the enclosure’s three photographed within the enclosure by on undulating sandy soils. males. These births are typical remote-sensor cameras. On top of this, of what would be expected of all devils trapped by the Program are Over on the east coast, preparations are sexually-mature devils in the routinely micro-chipped for long-term underway on a second 22ha FRE that will wild. They are also a positive monitoring. combine open pastures and woodlands. sign for next year’s breeding season, when four FREs will Meanwhile work is continuing on A third site, also on the Freycinet hopefully be operating. technical developments that would allow Peninsula, will host a 27ha enclosure on for devils to be weighed remotely, without gently-sloping forested ground. the need for trapping or handling.

3 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER JUNE 2010 INTENSIVE CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

Intensively-managed devils are kept in zoo-like enclosures. Every aspect of MAXIMISING the animals’ welfare can be managed, so it’s a successful way to encourage GENETIC breeding and genetic diversity.

instance, and putting him in a pen with a quarantine centre, where Insurance DIVERSITY a female. Population devils were kept before being t the heart of the intensive captive shipped to mainland wildlife parks and Amanagement program is genetic “Larger enclosures are a bit hit and zoos. diversity – as well as the making of lots of miss with this sort of thing. It can be joeys. manipulated to some extent, but if you Three breeding seasons later, the leave animals to do their own thing, there Tasmanian-based captive quota of the Intensively managed animals are housed is a danger that one or two males might Insurance Population has grown to more in typical zoo enclosures. This means that dominate breeding. And if that happens, it than 100 devils. it’s possible to regulate which males and narrows the genetic pool.” females get to socialise each breeding “We know that some of our females are season. The animals in the captive management again carrying pouch young,” Jocelyn program were collected as juveniles from said. “But we won’t know the exact “A big advantage of this approach relates disease-free areas of western Tasmania. numbers until the mums start denning to genetics,” said Jocelyn Hockley, Originally the facility acted as the joeys, probably in June and July.” senior keeper of the Program’s Captive Management and Reintroduction section.

“We want the Insurance Population to BABY BONUS maintain the genetic diversity of the The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s Insurance Population on mainland animals that would normally be found Australia is set to record its best season to date. It’s too early to check for exact in the wild. And within intensive captive numbers but Chris Hibbard, from the Zoo Association, said many females are management, we can try to control that carrying pouch young – even some animals that previously hadn’t reproduced. by targeting a male that hasn’t bred, for Close to 200 Insurance Population devils are currently being held by 19 Zoo Association members on , far away from the Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

ORPHANS “Like any devil that we trap, these orphans are micro-chipped before RETURNED But if a mother devil needs to be they’re released,” Jocelyn said. “So we euthanized, for welfare reasons, then what get information about the distance that TO THE WILD happens to the joeys? they’re travelling, their health, and whether they’re breeding. ore than 20 hand-raised devil joeys, “That’s potentially the loss of four joeys Morphaned by the Devil Facial Tumour for each female,” said Jocelyn Hockley, “It’s really important for us to learn about Disease (DFTD), have been returned senior keeper of Captive Management and the survivability of hand-raised devils. It’s to the wild by the Program’s Captive Reintroduction. “Those four joeys could an important issue to research in case we Management and Reintroduction team. be really important for maintaining the ever need to use Insurance Population devil population in that landscape.” animals from an intensively managed The uncertain future faced by these captive environment to re-build an extinct orphans had been highlighted during Infected mothers do not pass on DFTD to wild population.” disease suppression work on the Forestier their young. So, for several years, diseased Peninsula, in southern Tasmania. For females with pouch young have been To highlight the value of this aspect of the the past four years, scientists from the taken to the Mt Pleasant laboratory, near program, staff were pleased to find two Save the Tasmanian Devil Program have Launceston. When the joeys are almost of the orphans released on the Forestier removed infected animals from the a year old, the age when they’d normally Peninsula in 2009 were found to be geographically-isolated peninsula in an disperse from their mother, they are re- carrying pouch young during a recent attempt to contain the impact of DFTD. introduced onto the Forestier Peninsula. monitoring trip to the area.

4 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER JUNE 2010 WE’LL NEVER THE STORY FORGET YOU, SO FAR... JAKE The Devil Facial Tumour Disease n November 29 last year, the Save (DFTD) is a contagious Othe Tasmanian Devil Program lost that kills all infected devils a valuable member … and a treasured (usually within six months of the friend. Jacob Holdsworth passed away first tumour becoming visible). suddenly and tragically. He was seven weeks shy of his 21st birthday. Devil numbers across Tasmania Jake had a passion for wildlife. have declined by 80% since As a child, he lived and played in DFTD was first observed in Tasmania’s natural environments. 1996. In areas of the north- He had the opportunity to work as a east, where the disease was first volunteer on projects to help some as well as to Jake’s wider family. We recorded, local populations of our unique animals, including cannot begin to imagine your sadness. have declined by more the Tasmanian devil and the orange- than 94%. bellied parrot. But we want you to know that we think of Jake often. He’s still making Jake’s passion and knowledge led to us smile. his employment as a Devil Keeper in The ‘disease front’ has moved December 2008. He worked within One of Jake’s colleagues, Martin in a westerly direction across the Program’s Captive Management Pepperday, wrote this about his mate: Tasmania. It currently lies near and Reintroduction Section, caring the Murchison Highway. To date, for animals that are part of the Whenever Jake noticed the natural no confirmed cases of DFTD have Insurance Population. world, a look would come over him. been recorded in the far north- It was as if he recognised his sense of west of Tasmania. In those 12 short months, Jake made place – as if he’d returned home. a big impact. He was softly spoken, but somehow larger than life. He was The natural world was a stabilising always looking for something to do force in Jake’s life. He had the DFTD is mutating in the wild (and often it meant playing a prank). wisdom to always return to it to and, to date, 13 different strains At the same time, Jake could be still. find himself. It was a great gift that have been identified. He’d be the first to notice a bird of many of us never come close to prey soaring overhead, or an insect understanding. But Jake had that crawling in the dirt. gift and, what is most precious and The Tasmanian devil is listed generous of all, he had the kindness as ‘Endangered’ under the All of us in the Save the Tasmanian to share it. Commonwealth’s Environment Devil Program would like to send Protection and Biodiversity our deepest sympathy to Jake’s father Thanks for enriching our lives, Jake. Conservation Act 1999 and Mark, who is one of our managers, We’ll never forget you, mate. the ’s Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. WHO WE ARE The Save the Tasmanian Devil The Save the Tasmanian Devil The Program is a joint initiative Program is the official joint Progam is the official response of the Australian and Tasmanian strategy of the Australian and to the threat of DFTD to the Governments in partnership with the Tasmanian Governments. survival of the Tasmanian devil. . It features captive and free- ranging Insurance Populations, collaborative laboratory-based investigations of DFTD, and management strategies for wild populations.

5 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER JULY 2010 ROUND THE TRAPS

DEVIL DOCTOR ongrats to Dr Alex Kreiss, who Chas the distinction of being the first postgraduate student to complete a doctorate on DFTD.

Alex is a veterinarian from Brazil. His studies at the Menzies Research Institute examined the immune system of devils and how it interacts with DFTD.

“What first drew me to Tasmania to study the disease was the opportunity to make a difference for a whole species,” Alex said.

“Seeing the tumours is quite heart- MONSTERS OF DESTRUCTION breaking. I guess most people would like to do something to relieve devils t stands more than three metres As well as jumping cars and racing of that pain and suffering.” Ihigh and weighs close to 5 tonnes. at the local speedways, TAZ met the It cost around $250,000 to build. fans in the Hobart City Mall (and Several years ago Alex became one of And in April this year, the Tazmanian threw in some juicy rev-outs as a the faces of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Monster Truck put some bonus). TAZ also had a guest crush Devil Program when he was pictured metal-crunching grunt into the Save spot on ABC breakfast radio. with Cedric – one of his “research the Tasmanian Devil Appeal. assistants”. Meanwhile the Save the Tasmanian TAZ, the monster truck, was Devil Appeal held its first corporate Today he is continuing the research modelled on the Warner Bros supporters’ function last month. he started during his PhD, as there cartoon character. It revved its way Held at the Bett Gallery in Hobart, are “so many more questions we need into Hobart and Launceston during this event was the first of many that to answer about the disease.” the Monsters Tour of Destruction. are planned – so stay tuned. ENCLOSURE CONSTRUCTION onstruction of the Free Range and outer fences. CEnclosure (FRE) in Tasmania’s north east is under way. So far The inner fence will be clad in holes have been dug for posts and corrugated iron sheeting to construction has begun on the 1500 mm. It has mesh to 800 mm double fencing system. below ground and coming up to the bottom railing of the fence. This is The fence’s outside enclosure will be to stop animals digging in or out. 1800 mm high and made of Cyclone When devils come to a fence they chain mesh. It will feature a floppy tend to dig, but if they hit a barrier top to ensure that no diseased they are inclined to give up fairly animals can climb inside the FRE. easily. However, this is also Dr Alex Kreiss with Cedric, his “research The enclosure has been cleared to country, and wombats are determined assistant”. around 10 m on the outside and a 6 diggers, so we’re not taking m distance separates the inner any chances.

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, PARKS, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT Phone (03) 6233 2006 Fax (03) 6233 3477 Email [email protected] GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia www.tassiedevil.com.au

Newsletter written by Janette Kirkman. Page layout by Emil Kolbe.