Devil Ark remains the most successful captive breeding facility for the endangered Tasmanian devil on the mainland – starting out in 2011 with 44 founder animals.

The not-for-profit organisation now holds an impressive 52 per cent of the mainland insurance population being 150 animals.

In late 2017, Devil Ark opened its first predator free sanctuary, in which multiple species were released, including Tasmanian devils, Eastern bettongs and Southern brown bandicoots. 

This week, they have added more Tasmanian devils to this wild sanctuary and are slowly repopulating the Barrington Tops with these species that once used to roam the area.

Sadly, as we all know, the only real way to keep the wildlife safe and free from extinction is to have them protected within a large fenced off predator proof area, such as Devil Ark.

“It’s a sad reality that our wildlife needs to be kept within fenced sanctuaries to ensure their safety,” Devil Ark president Tim Faulkner said.

“However, what we’re doing at Devil Ark is the key to these species survival.

“What we are doing at Devil Ark is ensuring this species doesn’t die out.  

“Extinction is forever.

“What we are doing today will make the world of difference in 10-20 years’ time.”

The conservation facility will continue to grow the population within this sanctuary and will continue to do their part for our wildlife

Currently classified as endangered the Tasmanian devil is under threat from a transmissible disease called Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).  

In Tasmania, the disease has reduced the wild population to less than 90 per cent in some areas. 

DFTD continues to risk the endangered Tasmanian devil population. 

With still no cure or vaccine in sight and a continuing population decline, insurance programs like Devil Ark continue to be the species’ best hope of long term survival.