Media Release – Monday November 20, 2006.

60 TASMANIAN DEVILS LEFT!?

DEVILS IN DANGER SUPPORTED BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES

A steering committee of business operators, community representatives and school groups are rallying behind the cause to save the Tasmanian Devil from extinction.

A steering committee (DAGS-Devil Action Group Supporters) has been established to join Symbio Wildlife Park to push forward and create a public awareness for the decimation of devils in the wild and the limited breeding capabilities of remaining captive devils.

The Devils own disease DFTD has now spread to captive populations in Tasmania which will see the Government quarantine insurance population devils shortly be released to the Australian mainland.

It was only a short time ago that authorities stated that they would not risk release of these Devils to the mainland but with this epidemic now widespread in the Island of Tasmania, the Devils last remaining refuge, they are left with little alternative in an attempt to avoid extinction altogether.

Symbio Wildlife Park in Sydney together with Something Wild Sanctuary in Tasmania have joined forces to establish a separate bloodline to those devils  which will contribute significantly to an effective species survival program.

The Devils in the Government facility are captive bred and therefore there can be no guarantee that they do not carry the deadly DFTD.

The Devils at Something Wild are second generation captive bred and have no likelihood of disease following strict bio-security and quarantine measures  adopted by management at this sanctuary.

These devils would have to be considered the most valuable devil stock existing in the world today.

Symbio will be joined by the local Lions Club and through the established charity    Devils in Danger and will take their Devil awareness campaign to Corporate organizations, schools and community groups to support a fundraising campaign to build specialised facilities at Symbio and additional breeding facilities at Something Wild.

The true Aussie spirit appears to have been lost with this little creature as we have sat back and allowed it’s wild population to critically decline to levels where their future cannot now be guaranteed – all we can do is our best at this stage to contribute to a species survival programme and simply hope that “it’ll be allright mate!

It’s a horrible thought to think that there are possibly more Tigers in the wild than disease free devils?

Wednesday, October 4, 2006

TASMANIAN DEVILS – Beyond Extinction!

Two Tasmanian Devils will arrive on mainland soil today - the first Devils to be exported in more than 5 years from Tasmania to the Australian mainland.

Symbio Wildlife Park south of Sydney yesterday entered into a historical agreement with the Tasmanian Government, the first of it’s type in the world, to act as a quarantine and holding facility for Tasmania’s Something Wild Sanctuary. (the world’s largest Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary).

Dr Steven Smith, Devil; Program Manager and Heather Hesterman, Wildlife Management Officer- Devil Facial Tumour Disease Task Force, recently visited quarantine facilities at Symbio and were presented with a Management Plan for establishing an insurance population on the Australian mainland with Symbio as the current mainland devil population is “demographically extinct”.

Something Wild and Symbio Wildlife Park will raise awareness of the plight of the devils through ‘Devils in Danger’, a conservation program and the only registered Devil charity established at Something Wild.

This is the first step by the Tasmanian Government in ensuring that an effective species survival programme is established in an attempt to save the Devils from the brink of extinction

Thursday, July 27, 2006

DEVILS IN DANGER – They’re Finally Coming!

The worlds largest Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary, Something Wild located in Mt.Field National Park in Tasmania and local zoo Symbio Wildlife Park, south of Sydney, have made successful application for the importation of Tasmanian Devils from the Tasmanian sanctuary to Symbio Wildlife Park on the Australian Mainland.

This is the first, and only, approval of its type granted in the past 5 years (on the Australian mainland) and years of representation by both zoos, to various authorities, has finally been given the green light to proceed with importation.

Controversial news broke in January this year when Symbio had been refused the issue of a permit to import Devils, following a prohibition order on the export of devils, while at the same time the ban imposed was lifted to allow two devils to be exported to Copenhagen Zoo in honour of Princess Mary and Prince Fredericks new royal heir - Christian. The actions of the Tasmanian Premier came under fire by NSW Authorities.

Michael Radnidge, Operations Manager at Symbio finally obtained approval after many years, including many visits to Tasmania, working with and representing to the role that both Symbio and Something Wild would contribute to the conservation and breeding of these 600 year old creatures.

Ray and Leanne Green who own and operate Something Wild have been very active in establishing their “Devils in Danger” conservation program which has been developed to ensure survival of the devils and to create a greater public awareness of the plight of the world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial.
At Something Wild, and at Symbio, we are raising awareness of the plight of the devils through ‘Devils in Danger’, (a conservation program established at Something Wild), and we will be seeking interested parties to provide sponsorship support to assist in funding the survival of this Australian icon.

Symbio will act as a holding facility for the devils, freeing up valuable space at Something Wild which will allow them to continue their 100% ‘No Injury’ breeding success, the most successful of any known devil breeding program.

Their arrival to mainland Australia is being kept tight lipped, with an exact date imminent but yet to be announced. The devils will be met under tight security at Sydney airport and will be whisked away to their new home at Symbio for all to see.