The conservation introduction of Tasmanian Devils to Maria Island National Park: A response to Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD)

Summary

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), Endangered and devastated across most of its range by the contagious Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD), which has driven sightings down roughly 80% since 1996, was introduced to the previously devil-free Maria Island National Park as part of a national Insurance Meta-population strategy to establish a disease-free wild population. The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program released 15 devils in November 2012, followed by 13 more in October/November 2013, selecting Maria Island for its biosecurity, size, suitable denning habitat and freedom from dogs and vehicle traffic, while assessing risks to existing ground-nesting and endangered birds already present. Founders were chosen via genetic recommendations coordinated by the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australia, screened for health and behavioral risk of becoming a public nuisance, and released just ahead of the typical breeding season with temporary supplementary feeding phased out within about two months. Post-release monitoring combined GPS/VHF collars, regular trapping, and camera monitoring at feed stations; survival reached 87% for the 2012 cohort and 100% for the 2013 cohort as of August 2014, with over 75% of females carrying pouch young in both years, including from F1 offspring, and diet analysis showing pademelons, possums and wombats made up the bulk of the devils' food. Major obstacles included a lengthy dual state-federal approval process, controversy over introducing a predator outside its historical range, and precautionary exclusion of otherwise suitable founders that tested positive for Salmonella. The project reports strong early success, crediting careful founder selection, stress-minimizing release protocols, and a prior captive insurance population enabling timely, disease-screened releases.