U.S & New Zealand zoos to receive Tasmanian devils

PAT said:
In Australia they're often kept in pretty basic exhibits. Just a low fenced area with no off exhibit holding is the standard. I've attached a link to a photo of one of the Tasmanian devil exhibits at Kyabram Fauna Park (a small native animal park in country Victoria). There are two pairs of exhibits that all resemble the one shown. A basic yard with a pool, trees, and some logs to hide in.

http://www.zoochat.com/383/tasmanian-devil-exhibit-158682/
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I'm not sure this style of exhibit would be acceptable in an American zoo...

The basic exhibit is fine, but maybe behind a big glass window, to eliminate any potential contact.
 
zooboy28 said:
I'm not sure this style of exhibit would be acceptable in an American zoo...

The basic exhibit is fine, but maybe behind a big glass window, to eliminate any potential contact.
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also there would need to be a huge mass of mock-rock at the back (ideally a scale copy of Ayer's Rock), a landrover crashed into it, a barbecue to the side, and some fibreglass kangaroos. Otherwise the visitors won't be able to tell they're in Australia.
 
Chlidonias said:
also there would need to be a huge mass of mock-rock at the back (ideally a scale copy of Ayer's Rock), a landrover crashed into it, a barbecue to the side, and some fibreglass kangaroos. Otherwise the visitors won't be able to tell they're in Australia.
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You forgot the large can of Foster's.
 
they could also dress the docents as Crocodile Dundee, Steve Irwin and Blinky Bill! And make sure they're drunk of course.

It would be the greatest Australian experience outside of Australia.
 
zooboy28 said:
I'm not sure this style of exhibit would be acceptable in an American zoo...

The basic exhibit is fine, but maybe behind a big glass window, to eliminate any potential contact.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what the new San Diego Zoo exhibit looks like.
 
Rule of thumb- a native species' exhibit in its own(or a nearby) country is usually fairly basic. But the same species sent overseas, especially if rarely seen outside its country of origin, acquires an elevated 'exotic' status and often a much more upmarket exhibit.:)
 
Here is a New Zealand-based article on the import of Tasmanian Devils to the country - the zoos likely involved have indeed been identified as Auckalnd, Wellington And Orana, and it says that if import regualtions are organised quickly the Devils (groups of four for each zoo) could be in the country by the end of this year.

The further implication of this is that if 12 go to NZ, then ~8 would go to the US, presumably two more groups of four, to make up the "about 20" total.

Story here: Wellington Zoo In Line To Get Four Devilish 'Ambassadors'... | Stuff.co.nz

Wellington Zoo could get a foursome of Tasmanian devils as part of a trial to make the meat-eating marsupials ambassadors in the fight against the deadly Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

Spread through the species' savage infighting, the infectious parasitic cancer has wiped out about 80 per cent of the population since the 1990s and in 2008 the Tasmanian devil was declared endangered. The untreatable tumours grow so big they stop the voracious animals from hunting and eating.

The Tasmanian state government has launched a pilot project that would scatter about 20 devils around "high-profile zoos" in New Zealand and the United States.

If Ministry for Primary Industries import health standards are met, the "ambassador devils" could be in the country by year's end.

The plan is to bring three groups of four non-breeding animals to likely hosts Wellington Zoo, Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park and Auckland Zoo.

Only zoos with a conservation track record are being considered by the Tasmanian government and Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. The acquisition would be a first for Wellington Zoo and Orana, and the second for Auckland, which had two gifted by the Tasmanian government in the 1980s.

Wellington Zoo spokeswoman Kate Baker said the overseas transfer would be the first since a pair was sent to Copenhagen Zoo in 2006 as a gift to Princess Mary of Denmark, who is from Tasmania.

"We're just really excited about the possibility of getting them and it'll be great talking about them with our visitors," Ms Baker said.

Tasmanian Environment, Parks and Heritage Minister Brian Wightman said the project was viable because a strong out-of-state backup population of uninfected animals had been established in mainland Australia.

Formal ownership of the devils will stay with the Tasmanian government and selected zoos will have to stick to strict animal husbandry guidelines.
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According to a source the Columbus Zoo has made multiple past attempts at obtaining Tasmanian Devils from Australia and are no doubt going to be involved in a future US devil program.Whether or not they are the other confirmed zoo along with SDZ remains unclear, but is unlikely.Also whether or not they would be housed in the Road House or not is also not clear.Keep in mind Columbus has a ton of resources and would not necessarily have to house them in the Road House.My source also mentioned Albuquerque as a possibility given that they were rumored in the past to obtain them.Also the Columbus Zoo does not intend to to obtain more Tiger Quolls right now.

Team Tapir223
 
It's happening - San Diego will be the first collection to receive the Devils in October. Following them (not necessarily in order) will be Auckland, Wellington, Orana Park and Albuquerque Biopark in New Mexico

FOUR Tasmanian devils will head to San Diego Zoo in the US in late October, the first of 20 bound for overseas zoos and parks in the next six months.

Environment Minister Brian Wightman announced the pilot program in June, and yesterday revealed the first of the zoos to receive the devils.

Four will be sent to Albuquerque Biopark in New Mexico, and four each to New Zealand's Wellington Zoo, Orana Park in Christchurch, and Auckland Zoo.

The international program will raise awareness of the devils' plight, and contribute to the $5 million annual cost of maintaining the insurance populations. The chosen devils must be genetically over-represented in their population or at the end of their breeding life.

Wellington Zoo life science manager Elise Kovac was in Launceston this week attending a prerequisite Tasmanian devil husbandry program, before receiving the devils later this year.

We're thrilled to be a part of the Save the Devils program - it's a great opportunity to be directly involved,'' she said.


The program will be expanded to include around 10 zoos in North America and 10 in Europe.

Mr Wightman said he was disappointed by a failed bid for $4 million over four years from the federal government for the Save the Devils program, which is fighting against the deadly devil facial tumour disease, but said he would continue to lobby the Commonwealth for future funding.

There are now 550 healthy devils living in insurance populations in zoos and wildlife parks across Australia
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Tassie devils bound for San Diego  | Mudgee Guardian
 
Nisha said:
It's happening - San Diego will be the first collection to receive the Devils in October. Following them (not necessarily in order) will be Auckland, Wellington, Orana Park and Albuquerque Biopark in New Mexico
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Oh of course, Albuquerque, why didn't we guess that earlier???
 
zooboy28 said:
Oh of course, Albuquerque, why didn't we guess that earlier???
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It was mentioned by someone earlier and they have had a purpose built exhibit for quite a few years... Snowleopard and AD have both mentioned it in the past.
 
Can these Devils that are in captivity be prevented from getting the Facial Tumour Disease- either by some form of treatment, or using a strain in which its not present?
 
Pertinax said:
Can these Devils that are in captivity be prevented from getting the Facial Tumour Disease- either by some form of treatment, or using a strain in which its not present?
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As yet there is no way to vaccinate the devils from the disease. The captive population was all healthy animals though. They were taken out and then qurantined heavily on the mainland to make sure they didn't have the disease. As yet the population has had no outbreaks of the tumour disease.
 
On the flip side, i do hope that the Australians will be receiving something in return.
 
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