Written by Andrew Darby, published May 11, 2012 in Sydney Morning Herald
Sarcophilus harrisii, Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, Taranna, Tasmania. English: Tasmanian Devil in defensive stance, at Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, Tasman Peninsula. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A GOVERNMENT plan to turn Tasmania’s Maria Island national park into a last refuge for the disease-plagued Tasmanian devil has sparked strong opposition from wildlife advocates.
Attempts to safeguard the marsupial against extinction in the wild are focusing on the island after rejection of a plan to fence healthy devils into Tasmania’s north-west corner.
”We decided a single breach by a diseased devil would have negated that whole project,” said Chris Boland, science manager for the federal-state Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, ”so Maria becomes of critical importance.”
But conservation groups are worried that releasing devils on Maria Island could be too costly for birds and other animals on the island.
The 115-square-kilometre island, five kilometres off Tasmania’s east coast, is rich in wildlife.
A fatal facial tumour disease has cut wild devil numbers across Tasmania by 84 per cent in around 17 years, according to the most recent surveys.
Starting in Tasmania’s north-east, the disease has ripped through the devil population and is now found only 20 kilometres from the west coast, near the mining town of Zeehan. Late last year it entered the remaining stronghold of healthy devils in Tasmania’s north-west.
Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, Taranna, Tasmania, Australia Türkçe: Tazmanya canavarı (Sarcophilus harrisii), Tazmanya Canavarı Koruma Parkı, Taranna, Tazmanya, Avustralya (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
More than 500 healthy devils are now held at 22 zoos and wildlife parks around Australia, in what Dr Boland said was world-class co-operation to maintain an insurance population against the complete loss of wild devils.
But unlike these captive devils, on the island the animals would eventually be left to their own resources.
Dr Boland said scientists saw the introduction of the marsupial carnivore as a chance to learn how to maintain wild devil behaviour if, as predicted, the species becomes extinct in the wild within 25 years.
“I have a solution…lets just release the Tasmanian Devils on the mainland…let them run amok! How about in The Northern Territory? Apparently it is only inhabited with rednecks and the government could care less about it? Great idea Fran…lets just do it!”
…like most of our wonderful state government decisions this is based on a complete lack of a neurological brain stem. They are led by whichever “expert” is being paid by whichever big company at the time. Nursey (Lara Giddings) who likes to talk to the populace like they are somehow perpetually age 3 stunted specifically so “SLOW TALKING YOU MOB OF NUMPTIES…” is on her way out come the next elections and we are just about to be lumbered with the liberal equivalent of Armageddon… I dare say they will want to pay our last few coppers in our state coffers to launch the Tasmanian Devils into space (funded by gunns and their liberal friends…) can you tell I am somewhat disallusioned by the decisions that our Tasmanian elected officials are making lately? Sigh…
A few years ago I did an assignment on TDs and the problems surrounding their survival. I should do a blog post with some exerts.
There is actually an insurance population in Victoria that is genetically stable at this point. Its the backup for species collapse which is anticipated within the next 10 odd years.
I think they should have done the Tasman peninsula idea, but they should have done it 10 years ago. Its too late now to be thinking of an isolated population in Tasmania now. The disease is too wide spread and protecting it within the state of Tasmania is about as successful as trying to contain air in a cup.
Like almost every possible example, politics have forestalled the conservation efforts resulting in species decline. Game over.
Also, its great to see you, Fran! I was wondering if you were ok with your prolonged silence.