Australian Reptile Park Devil's Ark breeding project

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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Project to save Tasmanian Devil takes major step forward - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
An ambitious program to save Tasmanian Devils from extinction achieves a major milestone today when the first 30 animals are released in the Barrington Tops, north-west of Newcastle.

The Australian Reptile Park's Devil Ark breeding project will eventually house more than 1000 devils on a 500-hectare property in the Barringtons.

Since 1996, 80 per cent of devil populations in Tasmania have been wiped out by a facial tumour disease.

Reptile Park manager Mary Rayner says enclosures have been built for the first animals that will be released.

"What we have at the moment is 10 what we call intensive enclosures," she said.

"We'll have one or two devils in them and then we have some smaller free range enclosures for up to six devils.

"And there's larger enclosures for up to 10 or 12 devils at the moment, but we will build in the future larger ones again."

Ms Rayner says a lot is resting on the project

"Devil Ark is actually seen as the linchpin of the entire program and the really only successful component of the program at the moment," she said.

"A lot is actually resting on the success of Devil Ark."
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Chlidonias said:
Project to save Tasmanian Devil takes major step forward - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Click to expand...

The quote of the owner saying it is seen as the only really successful part of the program to me is a little bit ridiculous.

Firstly there are projects going on in Tasmania that are past the stage and doing great things for the breeding program. I don't know about other zoos but TWPZ has had previously great breeding records. and built a dedicated breeding facility (possibly where the ARP will be getting alot of the devils from).

It may be in the future but now it is no better than the efforts being put in by a number of other zoos.
 
At least they are looking at housing a sizable and (hopefully) self-sustaining population.

:p

Hix
 
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