/ / Save the Tasmanian Devil Program acknowledges 10 years of support

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program acknowledges 10 years of support

Howel Williams, from the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP), recently travelled to Perth to represent Minister Groom at the Australasian Zoo and Aquarium Association Biennial Conference (ZAA), to acknowledge the significant contribution of industry partners.

The conference, attended by more than 150 representatives from leading zoos and wildlife parks throughout Australasia, North America, and Europe, was the ideal opportunity to publically acknowledge on behalf of the Tasmanian Government, the contributions to Tasmanian devil recovery work.

While the underlying threat that has resulted in the Tasmanian devil being listed as endangered is still not resolved, there has been remarkable progress in recovery efforts for the species.

The partnership of governments, environmental non-governmental organisations, zoos and wildlife parks through the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program has been key to this progress.

The success of the insurance population has provided the STDP with opportunities to attempt more ambitious recovery action and in particular the release of Tasmanian devils back into the wild.

It is 10 years since the insurance population was initiated and in that time, more than 40 ZAA members have participated in supporting the program with more members expected to contribute as the ambassador program develops in Europe with new partners joining Copenhagen Zoo.

As well as a general acknowledgement to ZAA and the zoo community, STDP recognised some specific contributions, particularly the institutions that have prepared and provided devils for key projects:
•    Devil Ark and Devils@Cradle have been involved in the Peninsula Devil Conservation Project
•    Monarto Zoo has been involved in the Maria Island Translocation
•    Healesville Sanctuary has been involved in both the Maria Island Translocation and the Peninsula Devil Conservation Project
•    Trowunna Wildlife Park has been involved in Maria Island, Peninsula Devil Conservation Project and Wild Devil Recovery (Narawntapu)

The dedication and hard work of these organisations has allowed the following projects to be a success:
•    The establishment of a disease-free population on Maria Island
•    The release of devils at Narawntapu the first part of the Wild Devil Recovery project (late last year) to be followed by a further 2 release later this year
•    The re-establishment of a disease-free population on Forestier Peninsula

To mark this, Howel presented certificates of acknowledgement on behalf of the Tasmanian Government.