A major milestone for the Tasmanian Devil breeding program at Healesville Sanctuary with more than 200 joeys born at the bushland haven.
A team of dedicated conservationists have been playing matchmaker for sixteen years, as a key part of the insurance population for the endangered species, and this breeding season has seen nine youngsters enter the world.
Healesville Sanctuary carnivores and reptiles coordinator Grace McKenzie said they will play an important role in fighting extinction.
“These joeys will either actively participate in the breeding program here or at another zoo when they are old enough,” Ms McKenzie said.
They are also ambassadors for the program so people can learn more about the species and protect them into the future.
“Our team has been very excited about the three new Tasmanian Devil litters. We work hard each year to ensure we’re making the right genetic choices and to follow all insurance program recommendations, as well as maintaining a healthy population. So, it feels great. We are excited to share this milestone!” Ms McKenzie said.
“We will continue to work with the wider recovery program to do what is needed for Tasmanian Devil conservation. Tasmanian Devils live for five to seven years so we must maintain the insurance population every year.”
Zoos Victoria is a partner of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP).
Healesville Sanctuary manages a breeding population of Tasmanian Devils as part of a long-term insurance program to ensure fitness, health and genetic diversity are maintained into the future.
The Sanctuary’s program started in 2008.
La Trobe University and Zoos Victoria are collaborating on a conservation detection dog study to identify when female Tasmanian Devils are ready for mating, helping to support future successful pairings and pregnancies without human intervention.
Excitingly, in July this year, four Tasmanian Devils from Healesville Sanctuary were also released to disease-free Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania.
This release is a joint initiative of the STDP and Zoo and Aquarium Association to increase the genetic diversity of the Maria Island population.
Tasmanian Devils are the world’s largest living carnivorous marsupial.
They are classified as endangered with a decreasing population according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Populations have declined by 80 per cent in the last 20 years.
The main threat to the survival of this species is a disease known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) which develops rapidly and is fatal.
Healesville Sanctuary visitors can see one of the new Tasmanian Devil families at Devil’s Playground on the Woodlands Track.
The best time of day to spot the joeys is in the late afternoon as they are a mostly nocturnal species.
