Save the Tasmanian Devil Program 2015 Annual Program Report Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment The 2015 Annual Program Report This Annual Program Report has been produced by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (the Program) to report on activities over the 2015 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 Tasmania. 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. Immediately prior to publication, news was received of the passing of Appeal Ambassador Jon English. Vale, Jon. ISSN 1839-1907 (Print) ISSN 1839-1915 (Online) Contents Introduction ........................................................1 Overview: 1 January – 31 December 2015 .................................2 Program Management ................................................5 Insurance Population Sub-Program ....................................10 FOCUS ON: Partnership with the Toledo Zoo .............................13 Monitoring and Management Sub-Program ..............................14 FOCUS ON: Understanding the conservation status and population trends of wild devils .................................16 Wild Management. 17 FOCUS ON: Claude Road Orphans. .20 Research and Collaboration ...........................................21 FOCUS ON: Tools and Tech ...........................................24 Case Study: The origins of the Program: Nick Mooney and Marco Restani .....25 Publications .......................................................28 Performance of the Program to Targets .................................30 Where to from here? .................................................31 Devil Directory (as at 31 December 2015). .32 i Introduction In November 2014 I announced the development of a devils into a wild setting exposes them to the risks, but significant new phase for the Save the Tasmanian Devil this is offset against the benefits that we are trying to Program with the commencement of the Wild Devil achieve for improving the viability and resilience of wild Recovery Project. That project built on the progress that populations. I am confident that we will achieve these had been made and was a focus for investment by the outcomes; however, along the way we have seen that Tasmanian and Australian Governments. released devils are vulnerable on our roads. As the name implies the Wild Devil Recovery Project We are seeing that many devils remain safely in their is aimed at developing the means to manage wild new environment – and, as this publication goes to populations of Tasmanian devils in areas that are affected press, we have evidence that they are participating in the by devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). Previously, it breeding season. We are also seeing a concerted effort was believed that DFTD would lead to extinction of from the Government and the community to reduce the wild populations; however, we now know that devil risk of roadkill through changes in release techniques, populations are persisting at low levels. While local the installation of virtual fences at roadkill hotspots and extinction is less of a threat, these populations left to the testing of aversion treatments. I would also like to fend on their own would have problems of maintaining reinforce a message to all Tasmanians to please, drive an ecological role or adequate genetic diversity. more carefully in areas with wildlife, particularly between dusk and dawn. We are now able to move into this new phase because of the achievements made by the Program. The Another aspect of the Program that was strongly Insurance Population of devils is well established, emphasised through these releases is how vital solid with substantial support from Australian zoos and partnerships are to their success. The releases could not wildlife parks. Additionally, very significant support have been achieved without significant contributions is being provided by leading zoos in the United States from partners across the Program including the of America and New Zealand, through the Tasmanian participating zoos and wildlife parks, local communities Devil Ambassador Program. We have also seen the and business and the Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS). successful release of devils into the wild on Maria Island The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s Annual and this has given us a start in developing techniques for Program Report for 2015 provides insights into release. Concurrently, we have seen the development of developments and progress through what has been a an immune therapy that may provide protection against challenging but rewarding year, and a very exciting DFTD. point in which our response has gone from securing A year on from my announcement, we have seen devils from extinction to putting devils back into the significant progress with two separate projects – one Tasmanian landscape. based at Narawntapu National Park and the other on You can keep up with the progress of the Save the the Forestier Peninsula (and more fully outlined on Pp. Tasmanian Devil Program on its Facebook page or on the 17-18). The return of Tasmanian devils to the wild at website at www.tassiedevil.com.au Narawntapu National Park, in September, is a moment I will never forget (see p. 17). Not only was it an important means of reinforcing the existing population of devils in The Hon. Matthew Groom MP the Park, but it also incorporated a field trial for immune Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage therapies that have been developed by the Menzies Institute for Medical Research. Following the Narawntapu release, devils were reintroduced to the Forestier Peninsula, which had been secured from the spread of DFTD. Both releases have provided insights into the challenges that need to be addressed to ensure good outcomes. Releasing 2015 Annual Program Report 1 Overview: 1 January – 31 December 2015 There are no uneventful years in the Save the Throughout 2015 the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas Tasmanian Devil Program, and 2015 was packed with were surveyed for the presence of devils (Forestier) activity as Program staff worked hard to maintain or DFTD (Tasman). The Forestier Peninsula was the insurance population, monitor wild populations, depopulated by the Program in 2012 and extensive support cutting edge research and maintain important surveys since then indicated that it was very unlikely relationships with partners and collaborators. that devils persisted there. The original devil population was heavily infected with DFTD; therefore, with no In January 2015 a project commenced to further devils left, there should be no DFTD either. Devils have study the use of contraceptive implants in female been reported from the Tasman Peninsula, and an Tasmanian devils. Four trials were completed in 2015 infrared camera survey at the end of 2013 confirmed with two planned for 2016. Fifteen devils were treated that there is a small population breeding in this area to assess dosage, the effectiveness of contraception (around 19). Trapping surveys since that time provided in the Free Range Enclosures (FREs) and any assurance that the population was likely to be DFTD- impacts on behaviour; as well as the effectiveness of free. With no devils found on Forestier and no DFTD contraception as a form of population management found on Tasman during over two years of surveying, on Maria Island. The trial of the use of deslorelin (an the Program established the necessary confidence to injectable gonadotropin which stops the production of move forward with the release of 39 devils in November testosterone and oestrogen) continues in the FREs and 2015 aimed at re-establishing a population free of on Maria Island. Preliminary results have shown this to DFTD. (see p.18) be an effective tool for managing these populations. In February, the Program undertook a camera survey in north-east Tasmania which replicated the design of a survey undertaken in 2011. This survey allowed the Program to measure the proportion of area that is still occupied by devils in the region longest affected by devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). Of the 29 sites surveyed in 2015, devil presence was established at 20 sites, with three individuals visibly diseased. This work was undertaken as part of the Wild Devil Recovery project (see p. 17). Analysis of these results is continuing as part of the review of longterm monitoring work that is being conducted by the Program. (See p. 16) With research from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research showing encouraging evidence for the development of a vaccine in the lab, the next step was to undertake testing in the field. This work is being undertaken as a collaborative project between the Menzies Institute and the Program’s Wild Devil Recovery project and is testing the immunisation protocol as a tool for providing additional protection for devils released to the wild. The health of immunised devils released at Narawntapu National Park in September 2015 is being monitored during regular surveys. See p. 17 for updates on the Narawntapu release. Save the Tasmanian Devil Program 2 During 2015 the Intensive Captive site at Cressy was expanded to increase capacity and add