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Sympathy for the devil

You may not even have heard of the weird carnivorous marsupial known as the Tasmanian (or Tassie) devil, which is found only in remote Tasmania, but sadly in recent times this animal become infamous for the disease that decimated its population and left the entire species at risk of extinction. However the good news coming out of my recent visit to Australia is that the devil is here to stay!

Another species unique to the island - the thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger - is thought to have been extinct since 1936. The size of a dog with tiger-like stripes on its back, yet standing erect like a kangaroo and carrying its young in its pouch, the largest carnivorous marsupial on earth must have made a wonderful sight! Some people believe it still survives in Tasmania’s remotest parts - and my romantic side desperately wants to believe that - but the reality is that there have been no sightings for almost 80 years, which only serves to highlight the plight of the Tasmanian devil.

The disease that started affecting the devil in the 1990s arrived from the northeast. The weakened immune system of the inbred population was unable to cope with a mutation in the aggressive virus, and death ensued within six months of falling ill. The virus is thought to have been transmitted when individuals bite each other while fighting over food or at mating time. The average lifespan of a devil in the wild is only six years; breeding starts at the age of two years and each female produces only four offspring per year, of which only two are likely to survive to adulthood. If the outlook for a sick animal is only six months, the population really has little opportunity to reach a sustainable size

Fortunately, the issue was identified quickly and since then a great deal of research has gone into understanding the disease; a new vaccination, which will hopefully prove effective, is about to be tested.

So far, only two key locations are considered free of disease: the Tarkine Reserve in the remote west, which is hard to access due to the extremely dense vegetation, and the Tasman Peninsula, where a fence is being built across the neck of the peninsula to prevent contaminated indviduals from entering.

In the meantime, a captive breeding programme has secured the future of the species by ensuring the diversity of its genes – focussing in particular on the transmission of the Jurassic gene, which is known to be the crucial factor that allows the devil to build a healthy immune system. In 2012 a new population of 20 devils of breeding age was introduced to Maria Island (a haven that is free of disease, as no devils have ever previously lived there), and another 15 were released in 2013.

This population, which is monitored continually by a team of scientists, has now grown to around 60 healthy individuals. Any potential impact on the island’s biodiversity (it is a breeding site for various bird species) is carefully assessed and controlled. Due to the lack of predators, the island has overly large populations of wallabies, small marsupials called pademelons, and Cape Barren geese (another introduced species), so the presence of devils may bring more balance in the ecosystem.

Tarkine Reserve is under close surveillance as contaminated devils are believed to be encroaching on the area.

While all possible is being done to ensure the survival of the species and discover a cure for the disease, there is a positive trend showing a small increase in the healthy population in the northeast and Freycinet area. Some experts believe that the virus has run its course, and is now gradually dying off and disappearing. Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but it’s an idea that offers some hope.

Until recently the only chance of seeing a devil was in captivity, but these latest developments mean there are now opportunities to see them in the wild. However I would recommend visiting one of the key wildlife sanctuaries – all of which work very hard in devil conservation, breeding and release – first of all, as they offer amazing opportunities to photography devils while learning all about them, before you try to see them in the wild.

These curious mammals can be found on Maria Island, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Join a small group wildlife cruise, or contact us to tailor make your own itinerary.