MARIA Island’s newly established Tasmania devil population could cause serious harm to visitors as the devils turn from preying on birds to harassing humans, the popular tourist destination’s ferry operator says.
John Cole-Cook fears a child could be seriously hurt as the devils, some of which he said had grown almost as large as blue heeler dogs, become more brazen around humans. Some have already bitten tourists.
Twenty-eight devils were released on Maria Island – which is home to the world-heritage-listed Darlington Probation Station – in 2012 as part of a plan to build up healthy insurance populations in the face of the cancerous tumour blight, which was decimating numbers on mainland Tasmania.
That initial population has now grown close to 100 and Mr Cole-Cook wants them enclosed for public safety reasons.
Mr Cole-Cook said the devils were thriving in their new isolated home and had become fat and shiny from dining on Cape Barren geese eggs and chicks, and other birdlife.
But now, Mr Cole-Cook’s long-held concerns about the decimation of the island’s once-prolific bird population is turning to the devil’s increasingly brazen interaction with people.
“Eventually they will severely hurt a small child,” Mr Cole-Cook said.
“Already tourists, who have attempted to handfeed the devils have been bitten and the devils have been found in tents and on camp beds.
“A devil licked at the foot of a child recently and campers have been bitten through their swags.
“These devils are big, almost like blue heelers.”
Mr Cole-Cook said 16 devils who have bitten tourists on Maria Island were deported back to the Tasmanian mainland last week.
But the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment said the devils were sent back to bolster other protected populations, not because of “misbehaviour”.
“Some of the older, original released devils have been quite familiar and comfortable around people but only one devil has been removed from the island because of interactions with people,” he said.
“This animal did not bite anyone but did stand its ground when cornered in a building.
“This animal also took clothing and shoes into its maternity den. It is expected that island-born animals will be shyer of human interaction.”
Mr Cole-Cook advised tourists not the handfeed the devils, but he said many ignored that advice.
He said the devil resettlement program had merit but a rethink was now needed.
“It is time they were enclosed on part of the island,” he said.
“They do not need to be in little pens, like in a zoo, but an enclosure spanning many acres.”
He said a serious incident involving a tourist or a child “would go worldwide and the reputation of the island would be ruined forever”.
Tasmanian devils are not native to Maria Island.
DPIPWE said Maria Island had been chosen specifically because it was home to other introduced species, such as Cape Barren geese.
“Impact monitoring is continuing and options for managing the Maria Island devil population give the program the ability to adjust Tasmanian devil numbers on the island when it is required,” a spokesman said.
“This is done to ensure the population’s sustainability, to maximise its genetic diversity, to minimise its impact on other native species and the environmental values of the National Park.”
The Tasmanian Devil is my second favorite marsupial! Guess the first
