Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Newsletter 3
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DECEMBER 2010 — ISSN 1833-4954 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL. FREE NEWSLETTER 3 A coffee 4 Meet 6 Bringing a day... the up baby Dunbabins Two grants for Tasmanian- based projects were also $492,000 in recently announced by the Program. grants for Trowunna Wildlife Park will receive $105,000 for a project that will see their Insurance sub-population of Tasmanian devils incorporated into the Population Insurance Population, which is jointly managed by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program he Save the Tasmanian Devil Program and the Zoo and Aquarium T is sending a group of Insurance Association. Population devils to NSW in January 2011 as the fi rst animals for the Devil Ark Photo by Janette Brennan Tasmania Zoo’s Devil breeding project. Conservation Breeding potentially key role in the establishment project will receive $37,000 toward the Devil Ark is an ambitious program to of the ‘big numbers’ approach, so we construction of extra holding pens. This establish and maintain a genetically maintain very ambitious goals for the project will also bring valuable new devils, representative population of devils in short, medium and long term.” currently being held at Tasmania Zoo, into ‘Tasmania-like’ bush conditions. As a the Insurance Population. further boost to its success, Devil Ark The Program’s current target for the has been allocated $350,000 under the entire nationwide Insurance Population Manager of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Tasmanian Devil Conservation Grants is a total of 450 animals by 2015, but Program, Andrew Sharman, said the scheme. we appreciate the enthusiasm of our projects under this round of grants are Insurance Population members. - Ed looking at completion by the end of 2011. Devil Ark founder and Australian Reptile Park director, John Weigel AM, said the The Tasmanian Devil Conservation Grants “Potential future projects include further project will feature hundreds of large scheme was established in 2009 by the free range enclosures, and assistance to enclosures encompassing the natural Save the Tasmanian Devil Program and help Tasmanian wildlife parks become part bush conditions on the high-elevation is administered by the Zoo Aquarium of the Insurance Population,” he said. Barrington Tops property. Association’s Wildlife Conservation Fund. The purpose of Tasmanian Devil “It’s an exciting time in securing the “The plan is to hold 360 devils by 2016, Conservation Grants is to increase the long-term Insurance Population. The and approximately 1,000 devils by 2020,” capacity and number of Australian establishment of this grants scheme John said. institutions contributing to the Insurance refl ects the confi dence that the Save the Population – a disease-free population of Tasmanian Devil Program has in the “We’re certain that Devil Ark presents the devils that is being managed in zoos and zoo industry’s ability to deliver great Insurance Population with a unique and wildlife parks across Australia. conservation outcomes.” 1 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER FROM THE MANAGER’S DESK THE STORY SO FAR... Many hands... am surrounded by talented and The Devil Facial Tumour Disease committed staff who make me feel (DFTD) is a new, contagious cancer I Program that kills all infected devils, usually very privileged to be heading up an Manager within six months of the fi rst endeavour as important as the Save the Andrew tumour becoming visible Tasmanian Devil Program. Along with Sharman took our committed team, one of our greatest on a devilish assets is the support we receive from look for the the public. That’s why we’re devoting month this issue to the ‘many hands’ that are of November The disease produces small generously giving of their time and in support of “Movember”, to raise lumps in and around the mouth, which develop into large resources to make this epic conservation awareness of men’s health. tumours on the face and neck. effort a success. We’re celebrating just Death follows as a result of some of your countless efforts as a way of • manage and protect Tasmanian starvation and the breakdown of saying ‘thanks’. devils in the wild; bodily functions. While it is important to acknowledge • maintain the genetic diversity; and the great support we receive from the community (these days it is a global • manage habitats to allow for the re- community) we also need to make sure establishment of Tasmanian devils. DFTD is transmitted from animal the community has the opportunity to animal through biting. Because to contribute to the Program and the This recovery plan was prepared in of the general lack of genetic variation within the population, development of long term strategies to consultation with a range of stakeholders. the foreign cells of the tumour save the devil. In line with this, we are It is intended to act as an overarching aren’t recognised or rejected by the inviting the public to comment on the strategic document, which identifi es the individual animal. draft Recovery Plan for the Tasmanian key threats, options and actions required devil, which has been prepared by the to ensure the recovery of the Tasmanian State and Commonwealth Governments. devil. All recovery plans need to undergo a public consultation process before To date, at least 13 different strains Of course the major conservation efforts being adopted. This includes inviting of DFTD have been identifi ed. of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program public comment on the proposed plan DFTD is mutating in the wild. have been operating for years. But the and considering all comments received. new Recovery Plan (a requirement for all species listed under State or The draft plan will be available for Commonwealth Threatened Species public comment until 11 February 2011. The Tasmanian devil is listed Acts) maps out the actions that will be Copies of the plan and information on as ‘Endangered’ under the undertaken to assist the species’ ongoing making a submission are available at the Commonwealth’s Environment survival. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Protection and Biodiversity Water and Environment website: Conservation Act 1999, and The draft Recovery Plan identifi es that www.DPIPWE.tas.gov.au the Tasmanian Government’s DFTD is the main threat to the ongoing Threatened Species Protection survival of the Tasmanian devil. It also Let us know what you think. Act 1995. details the measures required to: ANDREW SHARMAN • maintain a disease-free Insurance Manager The Save the Tasmanian Devil Population; Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Program is the offi cial joint strategy of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments. It features captive and free- WHO WE ARE ranging Insurance Populations, collaborative laboratory-based The Save the Tasmanian Devil Progam is the The Program is a joint initiative of the investigations of DFTD, and offi cial response to the threat of DFTD to the Australian and Tasmanian Governments. management strategies for wild survival of the Tasmanian devil. populations. 2 SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2010 Derrick – donates 10 cents from every A COFFEE A DAY… cup of organic free-trade coffee from its Macquarie Street outlet (as well as ecent studies suggest that drinking its canteen at the Hobart ABC), and 50 R coffee can help prevent Parkinson’s cents per kilo of coffee sold by supplier, disease and type 2 diabetes – and now, Delarno. The team also donate all of it can also help to beat the Devil Facial their tips, as well as 100% of proceeds Tumour Disease (DFTD). from the sale of $15 devil tote bags. Celebrated Australian chef Annie On a more personal level, Dev’Lish Parmentier, and the gang from Hobart’s Marco Genaris and Annie Parmentier brews exceptional coffee. It makes the Dev’Lish Espresso café, have donated create the perfect brew to help fi ght DFTD. members of the Save the Tasmanian more than $30,000 to help save the Devil Program feel special that Marco Tasmanian devil… and the money the very wildlife that I’d fallen in love always remembers their individual (around $250 per week) continues to with when I used to holiday down here. orders and coffee preferences. come in. “So I thought I could have a vehicle “What satisfi es me now is the quality “I actually moved down here from that allowed me to cook again, of life I can create for others. When Sydney to retire,” Annie said, “and I was which I was missing, but would also I see the little zeros at the end of the also keen to give back in some way. give something to the Tasmanian amount of money that we’ve been devil. Hence the café and the name - able to give, that makes me happy. “Around that time I started hearing Dev’Lish.” about DFTD. I realised that without “And what would make me even devils, all the other native animals in The Dev’Lish team – which includes happier is if devils make it through Tasmania would also be vulnerable – Marco Genaris, Erin Milota and Rose this battle”, said Annie. roadkill occurs on 20% of roads, and around Tasmania there are about 50 to 60 DUSK TO DAWN high-density roadkill ‘hotspots’. ROADKILL f you drive faster than 54km/h on “In terms of management, that’s an VOLUNTEERS ITasmanian roads between dusk to dawn, advantage. It means we can target our you won’t have time to avoid possible mitigation in those areas.” collisions with a Tasmanian devil, new The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s research published in the journal Wildlife The precise locations of these hotspots Roadkill Project has been extended to Research has found. can be downloaded as fi les for your car’s involve trained community volunteers.