MARCH 2011 — ISSN 1833-4954

SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL.

FREE NEWSLETTER

3 FRE- 5 The devil 6 Appealing cam inside projects

hold large numbers of wild-type devils for a period of time—a period that could Devils living extend for decades.”

John and his team will be looking to see if wild on Barrington Tops’s smaller FREs will be as effective as the larger model FREs being mainland used in Tasmania. Meanwhile, it seems the animals have Australia hit the ground running. “Camera traps are already recording a range of natural or the fi rst time in hundreds of years, behaviours, including very exciting vision

FTasmanian devils are living in ‘wild’ Photo courtesy Iain D. Williams, Anaspides Photography of mating and nest building,” John said. conditions on mainland Australia. Devils once occurred on mainland Last January the Save the Tasmanian Devil Australia, with fossils having been found Program sent 15 Insurance Population widely. But it’s believed the species animals to Devil Ark, a large-scale “Giving the devils space to run further became extinct on the mainland some 400 breeding facility at Barrington Tops, in than they’ve ever run before—well, it’s years ago—probably due to increasing NSW. An additional 20 captive-bred devils heart-warming to see. The animals get to aridity and the spread of the dingo. were moved from the Australian Reptile use the seemingly-endless bush landscape: Park, in Gosford, NSW, to help kick- they explore their territory, they dig Devil Ark has taken a very cautious start Devil Ark—a project that sets out burrows, and they’ll eventually compete approach to the design of the pens (and to establish and maintain a genetically for mates. surrounding perimeter fence) to ensure representative population of devils in that there will be no escapes. Heavy gauge ‘Tasmania-like’ bush conditions. “This natural lifestyle is ideal for the chainmesh fencing is buried deeply into long-term goal of being able to release the ground and burrow-proof chainmesh David Schaap, senior keeper with the Save devils back into the wild in Tasmania, ‘aprons’, running fl at on the ground the Tasmanian Devil Program, said there should that become a viable option for the and tied to the fence, provide added have been intensively-managed Insurance species.” security against the escape of devils (and Populations on the mainland for several also ensure that wild animals, such as years (typically animals kept in zoo-like Devil Ark founder and Australian Reptile wombats, are unable to burrow into the pens). But Devil Ark is the fi rst Free Park Director, John Weigel, said he’s compound). Other security features Range Enclosure (FRE). The enclosures encouraged by the response of the devils include an unclimbable 400mm wide strip are smaller than, but similar to, the large- to their new home. of sheet metal suspended internally from scale enclosures that are operating in the tops of pen fences (a total of 6km of Tasmania. “Our immediate aim is to fi nd the right this material was required!), and electric mix of enclosure size and stocking density wires. “It’s fantastic to have devils released into a for the Barrington Tops FRE model to more natural area like this,” David said. ensure the cost effectiveness required to www.devilark.com.au

1 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER FROM THE MANAGER’S DESK THE STORY

ince 2004 we’ve been running a suppression activity on the Forestier SO FAR... Sdisease suppression project on the Peninsula be brought to an end and that Forestier Peninsula, in south-eastern we look to developing alternative projects Tasmania. Wildlife biologists have trapped to deliver positive conservation outcomes and removed diseased devils from the for the devil. The Devil Facial Tumour Disease geographically-isolated peninsula in an (DFTD) was fi rst observed in 1996. attempt to contain the impact of the Devil I want to acknowledge the professional- Since then, devil numbers have Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) in that ism and commitment shown by the declined by around 80% (in 1998 area. team over the past six years. They are the population was estimated all exceptional! Special thanks goes at 120,000 devils, compared to An analysis of the project from 2004 to Dr Menna Jones and to wildlife today’s best estimate of somewhere to July 2008 indicated that disease biologist Stewart Huxtable, who took between 17,000–42,000). suppression wasn’t resulting in a on the challenge of refi ning the disease signifi cant difference. At the time suppression project over the past year or however, there was a sense that so, as well as to landowners the Dunbabin DFTD is a new, contagious population decline had slowed and that family, who’ve selfl essly given years of cancer that kills all infected devil numbers could potentially be unstinting support to the Program. devils, usually within six months maintained at a level that of the fi rst tumour becoming allowed the local population A fi nal report on disease visible. The disease produces to retain an ecological suppression is currently being small lumps in and around the function on the Peninsula. prepared for publication. But, mouth, which develop into large In an attempt to achieve this, in short, it all boils down tumours on the face and neck. we modifi ed our trapping to this: we want to focus on frequency and strategies. projects that give the best Unfortunately the population outcomes for all devils. The disease front has moved in a continued to decline. With that in mind I want to south-westerly direction across more than 60% of Tasmania, In November 2010 the make special mention of our although there’s no evidence that Program completed a new Project Grants, which are it has yet reached the far north- detailed review and analysis Ulcerated secondary being funded by the donations west. of disease suppression. tumour infection. you’ve made to help save The aim of the review the Tasmanian devil. These was to evaluate how much the disease grants are for the community groups suppression project had helped us in and private bodies that contribute to It is believed that DFTD is achieving our long term objective of our management priorities, such as transmitted from animal to animal retaining an ecologically functioning the ongoing growth of our Insurance through biting. The foreign cells population of Tasmanian devils in the Population. You can read more about the of the tumour aren’t recognised or State as a whole. Project Grants on the ‘Appeal’ page of rejected by the individual animal, this Newsletter. in part because of the general lack The analysis showed us that disease of genetic variation within the suppression does make a difference; There’s no ‘quick fi x’ when it comes to population. however it is diffi cult to quantify the the challenges facing the Tasmanian overall conservation benefi t of this action devil. We’re in a great place in terms of for the species as a whole in Tasmania. building the Insurance Population, but The Tasmanian devil is listed The Forestier Peninsula population is still this conservation work will require a as ‘Endangered’ under the declining in spite of our efforts, albeit at a long-term commitment. It must be said Commonwealth’s Environment slower rate than unmanaged populations. that we have been heartened by your Protection and Biodiversity support every step of the way. Conservation Act 1999, and Given that we have limited time and a the Tasmanian Government’s limited budget to establish cost effective Threatened Species Protection conservation programs for the Tasmanian ANDREW SHARMAN Act 1995. devil, the Program’s Steering Committee Manager recommended that the disease Save the Tasmanian Devil Program The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program is the offi cial joint strategy of the Australian and WHO WE ARE Tasmanian Governments. It features captive and free-ranging The Save the Tasmanian Devil Progam is Insurance Populations, and the offi cial response to the threat of DFTD to the survival of the Tasmanian devil. collaborative laboratory-based The Program is a joint initiative of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments. investigations of DFTD.

2 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER MARCH 2011 For the fi rst time the FREs will be Insurance devils home to devils of a variety of ages, similar to what you’d fi nd in wild populations. But the true advantage settle into of managing several FREs is that it allows the Program to determine the Freycinet FRE effectiveness of different management approaches, such as: 22ha Free Range Enclosure (FRE) A on the Freycinet Peninsula, in • placing more females than males in eastern Tasmania, has recently been the Freycinet enclosure, compared completed by the Save the Tasmanian to having equal numbers of males Devil Program in partnership with and females at Bridport; and the Devil Island Project Inc. • installing nest boxes into the This is the third FRE to be operating Freycinet FRE to see whether the within the State: the 12ha Devil devils utilise them for breeding. Island was opened at Bicheno in 2008 The Freycinet site has limited by Bruce and Maureen Englefi eld natural denning capacity, while the (East Coast Natureworld), and last Bridport FRE has plenty of natural year a 22ha FRE was built by the den material. Program at Bridport. The Freycinet Dr Judy Clarke sets up cameras at the Freycinet FRE. FRE now contains 18 Insurance Judy said that nearly all of the devils Population devils—just in time for by the Program as part of the FREs’ living in the FREs have been bred the breeding season. management process. in captivity within the Program’s Insurance Population, with the The idea behind these large-scale “We need to minimise the amount exception of several older animals enclosures, said Dr Judy Clarke, a of trapping and handling so they (which were taken as wild founders wildlife biologist with the Program, maintain wild behaviours, but we several years ago—see the story is to allow devils to retain their can’t see the devils from day to day below). “One of the interesting wild behaviours. This is particularly in these big enclosures,” Judy said. differences between the animals born important given the Program’s “Instead we are using an array of in captivity and devils in the wild is 50-year plan to maintain a disease- remote motion and heat sensing that the captive animals are more free population that could, if ever cameras to monitor the behaviour active during daylight hours. needed in the future, be released into and wellbeing of the animals. the wild. “The current thinking is that through “Cameras are focussed on key adaptive management of the FRE But the minimal management locations within the FREs, such as populations they will revert to approach of the FREs needs to be feeding stations and latrines, so we nocturnal behaviour patterns and we balanced with the welfare of the can get some idea how the individuals will have well adjusted animals ready animals. So, to a greater extent than are interacting and ensure they are for life back in the wild whenever this ever before, cameras are being used still healthy.” is needed” Judy said.

other devils that recently came home, Welcome back “Michelle” from Milkshake Hills and “Tilley” from Temma are now living in ix devils from mainland zoos a Free Range Enclosure (FRE) in the Sreturned to Tasmania last summer north of the State. after successfully contributing their genes to the intensively managed captive “It’s really exciting to see these Insurance Population. girls return home after successfully central plank in our efforts to save contributing to the Insurance Mark Holdsworth, the section head of the Tasmanian devil. We’re starting to Population,” Mark said. Captive Management and Translocation, see the benefi ts of a coordinated and said the transfers were part of the cooperative approach to the captive- “Their DNA is already captured in their annual breeding recommendations breeding program.” young, and now we have a wonderful under the Save the Tasmanian Devil opportunity to see how they adjust to Program in conjunction with the Zoo Two of the six devils that recently a semi-wild situation in the FREs. If and Aquarium Association. returned to Tasmania were captured as they adjust well, we’re hopeful they’ll juveniles in 2006 as founders to build produce even more young—this time “The Insurance Population is a the Insurance Population. Like the with some new boyfriends.”

3 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER MARCH 2011 The diversity of expertise among members of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program plays an important role in furthering our knowledge. Our quarterly newsletter DEVILISH FOLK gives us the opportunity to introduce members of the team.

cientifi c research into the Devil This experience has given Chris a taste SFacial Tumour Disease (DFTD) of the various broad areas that are being is being carried out across the globe, researched for Tasmanian devils. exploring topics such as behavioural ecology, genetic diversity, the “The great leaps forward in science epidemiology of the disease, cancer often come from the synergy of treatments, and chromosomes. Yes— divergent groups of people coming it’s enough to make your head spin! together,” he said. That’s why Dr Chris Boland, the Science Manager of the Save the Tasmanian “We’ve got incredible scientists working Devil Program, is such a welcome in many different fi elds, and what they addition to the team. have in common is that they’re all focussing on the Tassie devil. If we can “Scientists are often publishing articles get a cross-pollination of ideas, it could that only other scientists get to read,” lead to some really great breakthroughs Chris said. “People in the fi eld are for the species.” sometimes so committed to their work that they simply don’t have time Prior to joining the team late last to learn about these great scientifi c Fraser Island (for which he obtained year, Chris was in the United States. breakthroughs. his PhD). More recently he’s worked Nearly everyone he met had heard of on a million-acre cattle property in the Tasmanian devil (probably because “My role is to cherry-pick, from all that the Kimberleys (helping to recover of the Warner Bros cartoon), and at research, the work that is relevant to Gouldian fi nches and other grassland least half of those people were aware of what the Program needs to achieve and species), before moving to the Cocos DFTD. It helped Chris realise that devils facilitate its use in the fi eld.” Islands and Christmas Island as are signifi cant not just to Australians, manager of the Invasive Species team but to many around the world. Chris’s experience ranges from (where he and his team eliminated conservation work with snub-nosed more than 99.5% of introduced yellow “I feel privileged to be part of the efforts monkeys in the jungles of northern crazy ants that had been devastating the to save such an important animal. And I Vietnam, to studying the evolutionary island’s ecosystem for more than think I might have some skills that can ecology of rainbow bee-eaters around 15 years). help.”

“The Tassie devil is an indigenous, Saving devils, in plain English unique and iconic animal that need not become extinct.” Jon English

in Mollette’s chromosomes might help on English, the Program’s favourite to unravel the mystery of why the Jrocker, and one of our community species is so susceptible to the Devil ambassadors, was back in Tassie over Facial Tumour Disease. summer for his national The Rock Show tour. “The fact that the devil seems to have a genetic disposition to tumours, and As part of his ongoing support for that they don’t recognise the cancer devils, Jon donated $1 per ticket sold to cells as foreign, and that the disease his Tasmanian shows (and that totalled keeps mutating in the wild—well, I Rocker and community ambassador Jon English several thousand bucks!). think that once you cure DFTD, it will met Mollette, from Androo Kelly’s Trowunna Wildlife Park, during his summer tour to lead to a whole bunch of possibilities,” “When I heard that devils could become Tasmania. Photo courtesy of Androo Kelly. said Jon. extinct, my fi rst thought was that we just can’t let this happen,” Jon said. from Trowunna Wildlife Park. Mollette “We’re not just saving the devil. We is one of the ‘homozygous AC5’ animals might be saving ourselves here as well.” While he was in the State recently, Jon that’s been bred by Trowunna owner, got up close and personal with Mollette, Androo Kelly. These slight differences www.therockshow.com.au

4 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER MARCH 2011 THE DEVIL INSIDE ying in bed one night in her “How lucky am I that this Lnorth-west Tasmanian home, Cindy little man came to visit— Quarrell thought she heard a possum an absolute privilege!” in her kitchen. When she got up to have a look, Cindy noticed her dog This young devil did well Madge standing in front of a cupboard to choose Cindy’s kitchen – barking and barking. for the visit—Cindy has rescued animals all of her Cindy Quarrell, pictured with her dog Madge, got the surprise of “It’s just a possum,” Cindy told the dog life. But Cindy’s story is her life when she heard a wild animal in her kitchen cupboard. as she shone a torch on some dark- a timely reminder that Photo courtesy of Katie McDougall, The Advocate. coloured fur. But just as she said this, March is the beginning the furry animal turned towards Cindy. of the mating season for Tasmanian Occasionally landholders are tempted It released a devilish shriek that sent devils, and that occasionally they will to trap and relocate devils. It is illegal the dog bolting through the kitchen, take up residence and breed under to do so, and could further spread the knocking Cindy fl at on her back. farmhouses. Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

“I knew the poor Nearby stock are If you have any concerns, or if devil was more rarely harmed as you want advice about how to seal frightened than me, most predators entrances under your home without so we left it alone,” seem reluctant to putting devils at risk, contact the Save Cindy said. “But hunt near their the Tasmanian Devil Program on I peeked in on it Cindy said it was an ‘absolute privilege’ to ‘home’. But while 6233 2006. a couple of hours meet her surprise visitor. devil imps can be later and the dear Photo courtesy of Cindy Quarrell. amusing, the noise Visit the ‘Devil tales’ page of our thing was hiding and mess may, for website for more face-to-tace stories under some cushions. I could just see those of us who aren’t as tolerant as its little nose poking out. Cindy, be a bit hard to handle. www.tassiedevil.com.au

CRIKEY! It’s a veterinary vehicle ustralia Zoo Wildlife Warriors has merchandise sales, donations and from wild devils. It provides mobile Aprovided funding of around $10,000 raffl es helping to raise much-needed storage for equipment, as well as towards a purpose-fi tted veterinary funds,” he said. shelter for team members when vehicle for the Save the Tasmanian they’re undertaking procedures in bad Devil Program’s veterinary team. “The week involved keeper talks about weather.” Tasmanian devils so the general public The vehicle accommodates all the could be educated about these amazing “It’s a gift, in more ways than one,” veterinary equipment needed for animals and the issues facing them— said Sarah. the various tasks performed by the most importantly, how to save them.” veterinary team. This means they Wildlife Warriors Worldwide was can respond quickly to emergencies, Sarah Peck, a veterinary offi cer with established in 2002 by ‘The Crocodile whether they arise in captive or wild the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Hunters’ Steve and Terry Irwin. Its populations. said the dedicated veterinary vehicle is aim is to involve caring people in the a welcome addition to the team protection of injured, threatened or Murray Munro, appeals manager for endangered wildlife. the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors, “Captive breeding populations are held said they decided to provide funding at several sites across the State,” she Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors to this project as it supports both the said, “so it’s extremely useful to have will once again support the Save Program’s Insurance Population, as everything needed on board. It means the Tasmanian Devil Program with well as wild devils affected by the fatal we can respond as soon as we get an their fundraising initiatives in 2011, Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). emergency call. including Black and White Day celebrations at Australia Zoo. “Funds were raised through Black “The vehicle’s also very helpful for and White Week at Australia Zoo, with fi eld work, where samples are collected www.wildlifewarriors.org.au

5 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER MARCH 2011 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL APPEAL

Donations fuel new projects

asmanian and mainland wildlife characterisation of DFTD tumour Tparks have received support proteins eliciting immune responses for their efforts to help save the in Tasmanian devils; Tassie devil with the creation of new Project Grants, funded by • Beata Ujvari, University of Sydney: your contributions to the Save the $25,000—characterise the role of Tasmanian Devil Appeal. telomeres and telomerase in the evolution and progression of DFTD; Tasmanian sanctuaries East Coast Natureworld and devils@cradle, • Menna Jones, University of Tasmania along with South Australia’s (UTAS): $15,000—genetic basis Monarto Zoo, have been awarded for heterogenous susceptibility the newly-created Project Grants. of Tasmanian devils to a novel These grants provide up to $30,000 infectious cancer; in support for non-research work that meets the priorities of the Save • Tracey Hollings, UTAS: $7,400— the Tasmanian Devil Program. ecosystem impacts of Tasmanian devil decline; and Wade Anthony, from devils@ These grants were part of nearly cradle, received $30,000 to help upgrade $190,000 in funding that was allocated • David Pemberton, Department of the husbandry infrastructure within by the Appeal in December 2010. This Primary Industries, Parks, Water the central-Tasmanian sanctuary. total also included six Dr Eric Guiler and the Environment: $2,050— Also receiving $30,000 was Mick Tasmanian Devil Research Grants: mitigation of human induced Post, from Monarto Zoo. This grant impacts on four Tasmanian devil will help increase Tasmanian devil • Greg Woods, Menzies Research populations. facilities within the Murraylands zoo. Institute (MRI): $29,600—production Meanwhile Andrew Pottage, from East of monoclonal antibodies to identify The Dr Eric Guiler Grants are named Coast Natureworld, received $15,000 important immune populations of in honour of the late ‘Doc’ Guiler to support the management of the the Tasmanian devil; —the great academic, zoologist, Bicheno Free Range Enclosure (FRE) by conservationist and Tasmanian devil Natureworld staff. • Cesar Tovar, MRI: $26,500— expert.

Tassie Devil Tea Boot scoot ocal tea producer The Art of Tea is after Samantha Brown, the manager Ldonating 50 cents from the sale of of The Art of Tea, visited a Tasmanian conic Tasmanian footwear producer each 50 gram box of their Tassie Devil devil park with her daughter, Hanna- IBlundstone has launched its new Tea to help save the Jane. Not only did they advertising campaign on You Tube, Tassie devil. see devils up close, with an offer to donate $1 to the Save but Samantha heard the Tasmanian Devil Appeal for every The Art of Tea is a tourists saying that time the ad is forwarded on (up to family-run business they wanted to help. $10,000). passionate about improving health, Tassie Devil Tea is Your challenge? To see who can do wellbeing and the a blend of mostly the most forwarding. environment. Australian-grown black tea. www.blundstone.com.au Tassie Devil Tea was launched in 2010 www.artoftea.com.au

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 editor and page layout Kim Nolan, written by Janette Brennan.