Extinction is not an option

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Monique Ryan info@devilark.com.au via icontact.com

2:53 PM (7 hours ago)

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Extinction is not an option!

The latest figures from Tasmania report that around 90% of Tasmanian devils are extinct in the wild, and some scientists are predicting that our Australian icon will be extinct within ten years.

But here at Devil Ark, we say that EXTINCTION IS NOT AN OPTION. We are working hard to breed genetically diverse Tasmanian devils in a naturalistic environment that maintain their natural behaviour. Devil Ark enclosures are large (at least two hectares) and naturalistic with multiple dens. Each enclosure houses small groups of devils that socialise as they would in the wild. It is very different to a zoo where small enclosures mean loss of natural behaviour.

Minimising the devils’ exposure to humans (especially handling) maintains their independence and wild traits.

This is important for devils that will eventually be returned to the Tasmanian bush.

Our approach is extremely devil-friendly and cost effective too. It costs less than $2,000 a year to raise a devil at Devil Ark; compare this with the $7,000+ that some zoos are saying it costs.

Watch our tv advertisement and share it with your family and friends.

Devil Ark update…

It’s now more eighteen months since the first Tasmanian devils were released at Devil Ark – and the second breeding season has been bearing fruits at the hideaway in the picturesque Barrington Tops.

Watch the update on one of Australia’s most important conservation projects...

Health checks are revealing a very special find

All devils at Devil Ark receive quarterly health checks, but the winter health check is our favourite! This is the opportunity for our keepers to have a ‘sneak peak’ into the pouches of the female devils to see how many young they have.

They still have about half the females to check, but already the count is up to 20! We are looking forward to another very successful breeding season.

Keepers Andrew and Adrian very carefully checking the pouch of a female devil and were delighted to see three joeys half the size of a man’s thumb.

Winter wonderland

Winter has well and truly arrived at Devil Ark, with average day-time temperature reaching 7 degrees and night temperatures now around -2. Barrington Tops was selected as the location of Devil Ark because the high altitude and wet and snowy conditions resemble that of their native homeland.

Since our long term goal is to breed and maintain a healthy population of devils whose descendants will eventually repopulate the Tasmanian eco system; not only do we need devils with wild behaviour, but also animals that can cope with the harsh, cold weather conditions.

Why your donations
are critical

It might seem like we keep asking for your help to build free-range enclosures at Devil Ark, and that is because we must!

Without the support of a significant benefactor and therefore the ability to build free range enclosures that will provide capacity for many years, we are currently building on an as-needs basis.

With the dramatic decline of devils in the wild, it is critical to have capacity for disease-free stock from areas decimated by disease. We must act urgently to secure genetically important stock before they are all lost to DFTD.

It costs $72 to build a metre of Devil Ark free range enclosure (we need to build 6500m).

Please help us; your donation

will build the future for our disappearing devil.