Efforts in the late 1800’s to eradicate Tasmanian devils, which farmers erroneously believed were killing livestock (although they were known to take poultry on occasion), were nearly successful. In 1941, the government made devils a protected species, and over the years their numbers grew steadily, until Schwann cells tumours affecting the mouth and face became widespread.

   

Tragically, though, a catastrophic illness discovered in the mid-1990’s has killed tens of thousands of Tasmanian devils. Called devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), this rapidly spreading condition is a rare contagious cancer that causes large lumps to form around the animal's mouth and head, making it hard for it to eat. The animal eventually starves to death.

Next, we moved beside the pen that was to have a lump of meat staked down. There was a female [average weight six kilograms] and two males [eight kilograms] in this large enclosure. We met William who was very good at running the other two off from what he clearly saw as his supper. On average, devils eat about 15% of their body weight each day, although they can eat up to 40% of their body weight in thirty minutes if the opportunity arises. This means they can become very heavy and lethargic after a large meal; in this state they tend to waddle away slowly and lie down, becoming easy to approach. This has led to a belief that such eating habits became possible due to the lack of a predator to attack such bloated individuals. They like to eat their favourite bits - the internal organs, first. William polished the soft bits off in quick order then we heard as he crunched his way easily through the ribs. In the wild if a devil comes across a big, dead kangaroo, he will choose to eat the back leg muscle last as this proves to be tough going. 

Mothers give birth after about three weeks of pregnancy to twenty to thirty very tiny young. These raisin-size babies crawl up the mother's fur and into her pouch. However, the mother has only four nipples, so only a handful of babies survive. Infants emerge after about four months and are generally weaned by the sixth month and on their own by the eighth.

The tourism side of the business allows visitors to view these animals from the comfort of the Visitors Centre or wander through the sanctuary on a personalised guided tour which ensures a close up encounter with a Tasmanian devil. One of our keepers will give you an accurate understanding of their lifecycle and the current threats that confront them such as Devil Facial Tumour Disease. We consider this aspect of the business a valuable tool in the education of the general public and an important part of our Conservation Program.

The sanctuaries Tasmanian Devil population forms part of the nation-wide Captive Breeding Program (CBP) called the 'Insurance Population'. This CBP is managed by the Zoological and Aquariums Association (ZAA) in coordination with the Tasmanian Governments 'Save the Tasmanian Devil Program' (STTDP) and is vital to ensure the genetic diversity held within Australian Institutions and the future of the species.

Similarly the sanctuaries Quoll CBP for both the Eastern and Spotted-tail is managed within Tasmania between associated institutions with coordinated support from the State Government Agency DPIPWE.

Our Field Monitoring Program (FMP) collects data on all these species within the wilderness of Cradle Mountain through the use of remote cameras, road kill surveys, spotlight surveys and liaising with the local community and visitors to the sanctuary.

Our Orphan Rehabilitation Program (ORP) receives a patient or two around spring time every year and is a role we cherish. There is nothing quite like being a mother to a joey devil and seeing them develop to maturity either within captivity or reintroduced back into the wild.

The sanctuary is committed to the long term conservation of this now vulnerable species, our team is made up of a group of knowledgeable, qualified, enthusiastic and passionate staff that bring a range of skills. Our intention is to apply best practice methodology and align with Industry Programs to ensure the long term survival of these truly unique species.

We walked past a model of a thylacine and later found this picture taken in 1906, Washington D.C. Zoo.

The thylacine, commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger (because of its striped lower back) or the Tasmanian wolf. Native to continental Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea, it is believed to have become extinct in the 20th century – recorded on the 7th of September 1936, when the last one died in Hobart Zoo, the first known land species to become extinct in Tasmania, declared so in 1986. It was the last extant member of its family, Thylacinidae; specimens of other members of the family have been found in the fossil record dating back to the late Oligocene.

The endangered numbat – picture by Martin Pot

Surviving evidence suggests that the thylacine was a relatively shy, nocturnal creature with the general appearance of a medium-to-large-size dog, except for its stiff tail and abdominal pouch (which was reminiscent of a kangaroo) and a series of dark transverse stripes that radiated from the top of its back (making it look a bit like a tiger). Like the tigers and wolves of the Northern Hemisphere, from which it obtained two of its common names, the thylacine was an apex predator. As a marsupial, it was not closely related to these placental mammals, but because of convergent evolution it displayed the same general form and adaptations. Its closest living relative is thought to be either the Tasmanian devil or the numbat. The thylacine was one of only two marsupials to have a pouch in both sexes (the other being the water opossum). The male thylacine had a pouch that acted as a protective sheath, covering his external reproductive organs while he ran through thick brush. The thylacine has been described as a formidable predator because of its ability to survive and hunt prey in extremely sparsely populated areas.

The thylacine had become extremely rare or extinct on the Australian mainland before British settlement of the continent, but it survived on the island of Tasmania along with several other endemic species, including the Tasmanian devil. Intensive hunting encouraged by bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributing factors may have been disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment into its habitat. Despite its official classification as extinct, sightings are still reported, though none has been conclusively proven.

Time for quoll feeding.

An Eastern quoll snacking on dog biscuits. The animals here are monitored and any getting too fat are put on strict diets. This big fella is off meat at the moment.

A cute picture on the adoption card. The devil is an iconic symbol of Tasmania and many organisations, groups and products associated with the state use the animal in their logos. It is seen as an important attractor of tourists to Tasmania and has come to worldwide attention through the Looney Tunes character of the same name. As of 2013, Tasmanian devils are again being sent to zoos around the world to ensure this funny little chap is not lost forever.  

We boarded the trusty ‘ol gal once more to go on our night tour of the road between our camp and the Interpretation Centre. Our driver told us that the animals were all perfectly used to car lights but if we stepped out they would scare immediately and bolt. Sadly, Tasmania has the highest roadkill in the world, certainly we can attest to that fact with the sheer numbers we have seen every day whilst out and about in Mabel. The experts say that if every driver slowed to 65 km from dusk to dawn the numbers killed would drastically be reduced........

 A possum frustrated by the steel band stopping him from climbing the telegraph pole.

Our driver was so excited we had seen so many animals that he just kept going – we didn’t get back to Mabel until just before midnight, thrilled at all we had seen. We were all ecstatic to glimpse a Tasmanian devil in the wild, many pademelons, a few possums and the very pretty Bennett’s wallaby and lastly our favourite, wombats.

.

ALL IN ALL SUCH A VARIETY

                     REALLY, REALLY GOOD - VERY LUCKY TO SEE ALL WE DID