Tassie devils

[Nuts]

Too fast? Probably a few complainants were trying to push the limits. That tyre looks very low profile too, not ideal. If you look down to the comments there's a pic of the strips, they do look fairly aggressive?

I'd suspect those mentioned, driving the road for 20yrs, the guy checking meters, are more like you mentioned before, experienced local drivers and, like yourself, voted least likely to hit anything. I'd imagine the DIER ('state growth') policy would be to deny everything.. even while they fix the installations.. Meanwhile local drivers tolerate change on behalf of us all, not squishing wildlife is a noble effort but it's them doing it not us, inner city nature lovers nor DIER.

Do the Frankford hwy next? I'd suspect we'd find the money for a less primitive system, in such places with more voters effected?

Anyway, a positive move, attempting to save endangered species.

[MickyB]

Some more positive news:

Narawntapu National Park post-release monitoring update
The first full-monitoring trip to check on recently released Tasmanian devils in Narawntapu National Park (NNP) has been completed. In an encouraging result, Save the Tasmanian devil program (STDP) staff trapped six (6) of the release animals. All were healthy and some had put on weight. Due to the dispersal of animals across the landscape, it is not unusual for all animals not to be trapped during monitoring trips. Remote camera traps and microchip scanners installed within the park have detected a total of nine (9) of the released Tasmanian devils and this has shown that nearly half of the released devils have remained within the national park area.

The recent monitoring trip found that the techniques used to monitor the devils including trapping, surveillance cameras and the recently deployed pitt tag readers have been very effective. The pitt tag readers detect tags in the devils (as used on cats and dogs) and then send this data back to the STDP via a modem uplink. This is received as soon as the devils are detected. The monitoring has revealed that the devils had not lost weight (which was the case when the first lot of monitoring was done on Maria Island) so the team is now reducing the supplementary feeding.
The Maria Island translocation has shown that in the absence of threats, captive devils can be introduced with high levels of survival, and will settle and reproduce. We know that there are a number of threats, including roadkill, to devils in wild releases such as the trial release into Narawntapu. The purpose of the trial is to test ways of minimising these risks and the STDP has worked with Menzies and other wildlife experts to trial new techniques. The retention of released devils in the release area is one success factor; the level of immunity of the released devils to DFTD is another. The next milestone in the NNP translocation will be to see the released devils start breeding in the wild (further ensuring their chances of survival into the future).

Monitoring trips will continue to be undertaken at regular intervals post-release and these trips will provide more detail on how the animals are faring.

http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil. ... ED00777BC3

[MickyB]

40 devils released onto Forestier Peninsula

Peninsula havens provide natural barriers to devil disease

Forty healthy Tasmanian devils are about to be released on Forestier Peninsula to re-establish a wild population of devils free of the deadly facial tumour disease in the state’s south east.
The Peninsula Devil Conservation Project follows the release of 48 disease-free devils on Maria Island and Narawntapu National Park over the past three years.

Operations manager with DPIPWE’s Wildlife Management Branch Nick Bates said the Forestier and Tasman peninsulas were ideal locations to protect healthy devils because they provided ideal devil habitat and were geographically isolated with two natural barriers – the Denison Canal at Dunalley and the isthmus at Eaglehawk Neck.

“As well as the canal, a devil-proof fence has been built across the neck of Forestier Peninsula to create an area protected from Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD),” Nick said.

“Devils have always lived on Forestier but their numbers have fluctuated since European settlement.

"DFTD was detected in 2004 and, after an unsuccessful attempt was made to remove the infected devils, the entire area was depopulated to ensure it was disease-free.

“It’s a different story on the more isolated Tasman Peninsula where monitoring has revealed that the small population of devils has remained free of DFTD.”

The devils earmarked for this month’s release include descendants of animals removed in the depopulation. They have been part of insurance populations comprising more than 500 devils housed in captive facilities throughout the country.

A careful selection process is managed by the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) to identify the most suitable genetic candidates for wild release. Selection also includes behavioural and other assessments.

Nick said establishing wild devil recovery zones on Maria Island, Narawntapu and the peninsulas is an important part of re-establishing devils in the wild in Tasmania.

“It is an international effort aimed at ensuring the long-term survival of the species in the wild,” he said.

“Insurance populations of devils in zoos and wildlife parks across Australia, as well as in the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program facilities in Tasmania, guard against species extinction and are the source of healthy devils for release.”

It is planned to release a further 10 devils on Forestier Peninsula in early 2016.

Tasmanian devils are now listed as endangered due to the impact of the deadly DFTD.

Across Tasmania, wild devil populations are estimated to have fallen by over 80 per cent.

http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil. ... F50008C3B5

[Hallu]

I remember the main road on the Forester Peninsula, and it's heavily wooded around the Arthur Hwy (at least it was before the recent bushfires) which is a good sealed road that can encourage people to drive fast... Good driving road plus poor visibility on its banks, potentially hiding animals that may cross it, I hope the devils won't meet the same fate as the ones released in Narawntapu...

[north-north-west]

It gets a lot less traffic in the dark, and most people do drive a bit slower. We can only hope.

[MickyB]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-18/m ... ld/6952890

Another group of tumour-free Tasmanian devils has been returned to the wild in a bid to combat deadly facial tumour disease.

A total of 39 devils raised in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania have been released on the Forestier Peninsula in Tasmania's south east.

The devils were removed from the peninsula in 2012 when deadly facial tumour disease (DFTD) was discovered in the area.


The healthy devils have been flown from Barrington Tops in New South Wales and Healesville in Victoria and couriered from Cradle Mountain and Trowunna Wildlife Park to their new home.

Earlier this year, 20 devils were released in the state's north but four became victims of roadkill within days.

Director of the Save the Tasmanian Devil program Howel Williams said 39 devils had been released across four sites.

"The aim is to re-establish a disease-free population of Tasmanian devils," he said.

The Dunalley Canal, as well as a man-made fence, will be used to protect the healthy population.

The release of the devils was another milestone in the project.

"It's actually fantastic, it's been a really huge effort," Mr Williams said.

Save the Devil appeal manager Rebecca Cuthill said generous public donations had a direct impact on the success of the Wild Devil Recovery Project.

"By flying the devils home to the Forestier Peninsula we are helping to re-establish a healthy Tasmanian population of devils that are free of DFTD," she said.

"Today's flight from New South Wales to Tasmania is tangible support for our local devil population that is only made possible through public donations we receive.

"We are very grateful for the clear public interest and support for the devils amazing journey home."

[MickyB]

Anyone been on Maria Island recently ? How's the population over here ? A documentary I saw claimed they're getting quite familiar and that you can see them during the day.

Welcome to the forum smitasam. According to this Mercury article the devils are doing well http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasma ... 7188878220

Some 28 disease-free devils were introduced to the East Coast island throughout 2012 and 2013, and that group has grown to a healthy population of between 70 and 80.

Also discussed on page 1 of this topic.

[MickyB]

More released devils have been hit and killed by cars.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/tasma ... l9tjn.html

Up to eight captive-bred Tasmanian devils released as part of a re-wilding program have been killed on the island's roads.
The latest four to die were set free last week in the Forestier Peninsula woodlands east of Hobart, after being bred at the Devil Ark sanctuary near Newcastle.
The animals died on the peninsula's Tasman Highway, a winding forested tourist route where they had travelled up to 15 kilometres from their release site. Microchip checks confirmed the identities of the devils, which were part of a precious population of animals living in the wild free of the devil facial tumour disease which is wreaking havoc on the species.
"It is obviously very sad, and we certainly can't view it as anything but a setback," said Devil Ark's operations manager, Mike Drinkwater.
"But when we're talking true re-wilding, roadkill is going to be an ever present danger," he said. "It's a problem for animals right across this country."
The eight came from a total of 59 healthy animals released at two Tasmanian sites to combat devastating losses of the animal to the transmittable cancer known as devil facial tumour disease.
The first four died within days of each other in September at Narawntapu National Park in Tasmania's north.
Another spate of deaths after the second release indicated the animals that travelled furthest from their release site may be more likely to die on roads, Save the Tasmanian Devil Program director Howell Williams said.
Dr Williams agreed it was possible more devils had been hit by vehicles and were unseen in roadside checks. But he said it was vital to keep the re-wilding program going.
Over the past 20 years the deadly facial cancer had wiped out most devils in Tasmania, with some populations dealt 95 per cent losses.
Small numbers persisted in the wild and Dr Williams said these were becoming inbred.
"They are not ecologically functional," he said."They might as well be extinct in the wild. So we are trying to boost the population."
More than 600 devils live in a captive insurance population in Tasmania and around Australia, with strong numbers breeding at Healesville Sanctuary outside Melbourne and the Devil Ark at Barrington Tops.
"There is no textbook on how to release Tasmanian devils," Dr Williams said. "Obviously we are doing everything we can to hone our technique."
Attempts have been made to keep the animals in their release zones by distributing food for them.
The devil program will considers methods of keeping animals in a local area after release, so they could settle down, he said.
The Tasmanian government is issuing urgent pleas to drivers to slow down at night.

[north-north-west]

Good to see a factual and well-balanced report on it. I've read some absolute tosh on some news FB pages.

[MickyB]

What kind of tosh NNW?

[north-north-west]

Ohhhh, clueless people carrying on about how the scientists who released them should be charged, and why aren't they in a national park, and why not release them away from roads . . . all sorts of stupidity. The hear about the critters being killed and get upset but they have no understanding of the complexities of the situation.

It's great that so many people care, but it would be more productive if they educated themselves about the whole situation and maybe put some time or money into doing something about it rather than all their inane babbling.

Does that sound a bit judgmental? Fine. Heavily into 'not suffering fools lightly' mode at the moment.

[MickyB]

Does that sound a bit judgmental?

Not at all. I totally agree with you although I haven't read any articles that have stated all that tosh. More so comments from the general public.

[Nuts]

Barriers to stop road carnage:
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasma ... 213c85d591

[MickyB]

Identification of a second type of Devil Facial Tumour Disease

http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil. ... 310083664A

[MickyB]

Devil Vaccine Research
A new era in the fight to secure the future for the Tasmanian devil has commenced. Creation of a vaccine will ensure a disease-free future for the Tasmanian devil living where it belongs, in the wild.

http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil. ... 4E001A1294

[Grindelwalddave]

A talkback caller on ABC Radio yesterday when asked whether land clearing at the recently purchased Woolnorth property would affect the Devil population described the Tasmanian Devil as "vermin". I was disappointed to hear that people would still view the Devil this way.

[MickyB]

Forestier Peninsula Release - Update 29 February 2016

In late February 2916, ten juvenile animals were released onto the Bangor property on Forestier Peninsula, joining the older Tasmanian devils released in the area last November.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Team Leader Dr Sam Fox said the juvenile animals were ‘soft released’ into portable pens on the property for about two weeks. “This enabled them to smell, see and hear their new environment,” Sam said.

The STDP opened the gate to the pen in late February, enabling the young devils to leave the pen when they were ready.

As of Monday 29 February, two of the juvenile devils have died from being hit by a motor vehicle. Both animals were roadkilled near Murdunna on the Arthur Highway.

http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil. ... 6800059815

[cams]

Excited to see a devil last week on our week down there. It was crossing the road on Poatina Rd somewhere before we head down off the plateau. It seemed a bit unstable on its back legs. Is this a sign of tumor? Also seemed pretty pretty worse for wear with fur missing in chunks on its back.

[DanShell]

Excited to see a devil last week on our week down there. It was crossing the road on Poatina Rd somewhere before we head down off the plateau. It seemed a bit unstable on its back legs. Is this a sign of tumor? Also seemed pretty pretty worse for wear with fur missing in chunks on its back.

Im no expert, but even though the tumours can effect other parts of their body besides the facial area it is more than likely due to fighting amongst its own.

[MickyB]

Excited to see a devil last week on our week down there. It was crossing the road on Poatina Rd somewhere before we head down off the plateau. It seemed a bit unstable on its back legs. Is this a sign of tumor? Also seemed pretty pretty worse for wear with fur missing in chunks on its back.

Im no expert, but even though the tumours can effect other parts of their body besides the facial area it is more than likely due to fighting amongst its own.

You are correct Dan.

[north-north-west]

Part of the 'courting' process involves biting, including facial bites. Kind of makes you glad you aren't one, doesn't it?

[DanShell]

Part of the 'courting' process involves biting, including facial bites. Kind of makes you glad you aren't one, doesn't it?

Oh it may be kind of ok????

[doogs]

I saw a few driving in the south-west a couple of nights ago. It was nice.

[cams]

Interesting to know. Thanks. We were pretty excited.

[north-north-west]

I saw a few driving in the south-west a couple of nights ago. It was nice.

Didn't know they could drive. Bet they weren't licenced.

[MickyB]

From 31.8.16

Stony Head release - Wild Devil Recovery Project

Last night the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP) released 33 Tasmanian devils at Stony Head in the State’s North East.

This release represents months of hard work by the SDTP and its partners and supporters. It is part of the ongoing efforts to protect and recover the species and is a crucial part of exploring ways to rebuild populations affected by Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).

The devils released at Stony Head include, for the first time, wild devils from Maria Island and devils from the captive insurance population. They join the 20 devils released at Narawntapu National Park in September 2015 and the 49 devils released on the Forestier Peninsula in November 2015 as part of the Wild Devil Recovery Project.

http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil. ... 20000DEBD9

[Matt_22]

I unfortunately drove past one this morning that was deceased on the side of the road about 1km north of the Batman Bridge turnoff on the East Tamar Hwy...

[Ant71]

I saw one two weeks ago on the overland track about half an hour after leaving New Pelion hut I could not get a photo as it run off before I got my phone out

[north-north-west]

First clear sighting I had in the wild a couple of weeks back - near Trial Harbour. Just a young 'un out for an early morning stroll.

[cams]

Saw one as we were about to head to bed at Encampment Cove on Maria a few weeks ago. Stood up from the fire, said to my Wife "we should have a quick look for devils before bed", shined the torch light up and out and there was one sitting in the clearing about 10m away. Wonder how long it had been sitting there stalking us like a creep.