The Tasmanian devil is suffering a dramatic population decline due to devil facial tumour disease (DFTD).

The first sightings of disfigured victims of this contagious cancer occurred in 1996. The seriousness of the disease later became apparent as devil numbers crashed.

The frightening rate of the ongoing population decline is demonstrated above, from data published by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STTDP).

The STTDP is an initiative of the Tasmanian government. A governing steering committee, which is comprised of National and State representatives, coordinates research and conservation efforts, while maintaining a highly informative website at www.tassiedevil.com.au.

To ensure against extinction of this iconic species and to provide a source of disease-free animals for eventual return to the wild, the STTDP has called for the establishment of a large and genetically diverse captive insurance population of devils, held in large part away from the disease on the Australian mainland.

What is Devil Ark?

Devil Ark is an important component of the STTDP insurance population strategy to avert the extinction of the Tasmanian devil. It is an initiative of the Australian Reptile Park in partnership with the Zoos and Aquaria of Australasia (ZAA) and the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species (FAME). By breeding healthy ‘wild-type’ devils within high standards of animal welfare in a wild-type environment, Devil Ark will provide the most significant component of the mainland insurance population intended for eventual return to the Tasmanian landscape.

Recognised as one of the most ambitious breeding programs for any predator species worldwide, the mission for Devil Ark is to establish and maintain a genetically representative population of 1,000 or more Tasmanian devils in environmentally appropriate, 'Tasmania-like' conditions while the disease runs its devastating course through the wild population. Through the provision of hundreds of large enclosures encompassing natural bushland conditions on the high-elevation Barrington Tops NSW property, the breeding program will be conducted in accordance with overarching STTDP and ZAA directions.

By establishing and maintaining a population of healthy, genetically diverse Tasmanian devils, Devil Ark, along with the other components of the STTDP insurance population, will be able to provide a sustainable source of devils for reintroduction to the Tasmanian landscape when directed to do so. Founder animals will be provided by the STTDP, collected from strategic locations in Tasmania, and from captive bred stock produced at mainland zoos including the Australian Reptile Park.