Tasmanian Devil Research

Bangor - Partners with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

At Bangor we have a large population of Tasmanian Devils. They use the open woodlands and grasslands for foraging, and breed in the heavily forested areas. A programme to monitor the presence and spread of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease was started in 2004 with a pilot study to assess the population size and incidence of the disease. A full-scale trapping programme began in 2006.

The programme at Bangor aims to limit the spread of the disease with a view to maintaining a healthy population of wild devils on the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas.

The Forestier Peninsula is a good location for such a trial because the area is relatively isolated from other devil populations. New 'devil-proof' gates have just been built for the bridge across the Dunalley canal. They prevent the movement of devils across the bridge, isolating the Forestier and Tasman Peninsula populations from 'mainland' Tasmania. This gives the best opportunity for the disease suppression trial on Bangor to work.

Researchers and volunteers from the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, come to Bangor at regular times during the year, for 'trapping trips'. Devils are caught in specially designed traps and detailed information about them is recorded, they are electronically tagged and released. Up to 100 traps are set right across Bangor. Any devils found with the disease are removed and euthanased, to help reduce the transmission of the disease between devils. Samples are taken from these animals for further laboratory studies.

The early start of the trapping programme here at Bangor may have helped to restrict the spread of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. While there has been some population decline, thankfully it is not as dramatic as it has been in unmanaged populations. The latest research results are showing that the Tasmanian devil population here at Bangor is substantially more robust than unmanaged populations in other areas of the state, showing that the trapping programme is working. Because of this, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program is ramping up its trapping effort here at Bangor in 2010.

The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program has also been reintroducing orphaned devils back to Bangor. About 14 young devils were released in 2008/2009. Two large pens have been constructed in an area of light bush. The young devils are first released into the pens to acclimatise them before being released into the wild. Four young orphans were released at Bangor in January 2010.

For more information about Tasmanian devils go to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program website.