DEVIL Ark's goal of sending healthy and genetically diverse Tasmanian devils back to Tasmania has become a reality.
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The captive breeding facility which is located in the Barrington Tops near Gloucester, and has been breeding an insurance population of Tasmanian devils unaffected by the transmissible cancer Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) - a disease that has been wiping out the species since 1996.
It's a story of hope and new beginnings for the 22 devils which boarded their 'ark', a charted plane, on Wednesday, November 18, at Scone Airport. The devils were driven to their airport by Devil Ark operations manager Mike Drinkwater and Devil Ark keeper Dean Reid.
Dean has cared for the devils for around three years. Now he will hand the role over to the Tasmanian government funded Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.
Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STTDP) keeper and utility manager Steve Izzard accompanied the devils on their flight. The STTDP will be in charge of releasing the devils and continuing to monitor their progress in adapting to life in Tasmania.
"It's been a great relationship," said Steve on the affinity between STTDP and Devils Ark.
"Tasmania can't save the Tasmanian Devil alone, we need Australia's help."
- Steve Izzard, Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STTDP) keeper and utility manager
"Tasmania can't save the Tasmanian Devil alone, we need Australia's help."
Devil Ark's Tasmanian devils will be joining 17 other devils coming from other institutions.
The devils' new home will be located on the Forestier Peninsula. The pensiula surrounds Norfolk Bay, and is attached by narrow points of land to Tasmania.
A fence has been erected near a canal at the town of Dunalley as added protection for the devils.
Initially STTDP will assist in feeding the animals, before they are expected to fulfil their role within the wild as scavengers clearing up animal carcasses.
It is hoped, that by early next year, breeding will have been successful among the devils, with a new generation of Tasmanian devil joeys running around the pensisula.
Eleven female and 11 male devils from Devil Ark had a biopsy prior to their selection to ensure they are genetically diverse, to maximise their breeding potential.
Before their journey each devil was weighed, health checked and brushed free of parasites.
Devil Ark campaigns manager Jennifer Croes said there is no timeline on when the next lot of devils will go to Tasmania.
"We need to work on perfecting their adaption in Tasmania," explained Jennifer.
Jennifer believes this will be the first in many milestones for Devil Ark in the goal of re-populating Tasmania with disease-free Tasmania devils.
"We just need to put effort into species, no matter the circumstances."
- Jennifer Croes, Devil Ark campaigns manager
"It shows there is hope for threatened species, we can avoid extinction across the board," she said.
"We just need to put effort into species, no matter the circumstances."
Support the devils
Visit the website, http://www.devilark.org.au/, to learn how you can support Devil Ark by donating, purchasing merchandise, "adopting" a devil, or taking part in the 'Devils in the Wild Tour' at Devil Ark.
