Tasmanian Devil
Sarcophilus harrisii
General Information
Population in Wild: 15,000 - 50,000
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Diet: Carnivorous
Length: 75cm
Weight: 12kg
Life Expectancy: 5-6 years
Activity: Nocturnal
Habitat
Natural Habitat
The Devils usually alternate between 3 to 4 individual dens. The dens may be; hollow logs, dense vegetation, abandoned wombat burrows, caves and self-dug.
Zoo Enclosure
Comparison
However, the devils have limited space in the zoo enclosure, compared to the wild where they have a much greater amount of space.
The temperature is warmer in Sydney rather than Tasmania, and so the enclosure would be warmer than in the wild.
The Devils do not have a constant supply of animals and cannot always hunt.
Diet
Natural Diet
Diet in Captivity
Comparison
The devils do not have access to as large a variety of food as in the wild. They are also guaranteed enough food in the zoo, but may not receive enough in the wild.
Adaptations
Structural
Physiological
Behavioural
They are nocturnal; allowing them to scavenge when many other animals are asleep, lowering interspecific competition.
Behaviour in Captivity
Tasmanian Devils learn that they are always fed in zoos. They anticipate being fed and begin to pace, deviating from normal behaviour. Taronga Zoo tries not to encourage this, by feeding them at random times.
Stress:
The devils can become stressed in captivity, often wandering continuously in small circles. Zoos attempt to fix this by changing routines.
To encourage the Devils to keep their behavioural adaptations and in order to stop boredom and stress, zoos implement enrichment activities. Taronga Zoo encourages natural behaviour by giving Devils raw bones to chew on, and frozen blood to stimulate their sense of smell.
Overall, the Devils behaviour sometimes deviates from the normal due to stress, boredom, and differences between the devils natural habitat and the enclosure. However, typical behaviour can easily be encouraged using several techniques. Devils behaviour in the wild and in captivity can compare very similarly under the correct conditions.
Human Impacts
Threats
Other threats include:
- Low genetic diversity
- Introduced predators
- Roadkill
- Habitat loss
- Climate change
Conservation
Zoos:
Taronga Zoo is working with several other zoos to breed an insurance population of Tasmanian Devils. If needed, they can be reintroduced into Tasmania or mainland Australia.Devil Island Project:
The devil island project have built two large free-range enclosures for Tasmanian Devils to live in an area free of DFTD. The enclosures are almost entirely self sustaining and are in Tasmania.
Save the Tasmanian Devil Program:
20 devils born in captivity were released back into the wild in Tasmania, with a vaccine against DFTD. The plan is to monitor how the devils reproduce and how their immune system has been helped by the vaccine.
There are calls for the Devils to be reintroduced into mainland Australia, where they once lived. This would allow them to live without the threat of DFTD. This could have a negative effect on Tasmania's tourism.
Bibliography
L. Shannon and R. Lehman, 27th September 2015, ABC News, Australia, 10th November, 2015, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-26/release-of-captive-bred-tasmania-devils-marks-milestone/6807058
Unknown, July 2015, Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Australia, 10th November, 2015, http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/news/DF1C161FEB608E6BCA257DB700107BD0
Bruce Englefield, 2015, Devil Island Project Group Inc., Australia, 11th November, 2015, http://www.savethetasmaniandevil.org.au/
Ella Minton, 25th September 2015, Australian Museum, Australia, 13th November, 2015, http://australianmuseum.net.au/tasmanian-devil
Unknown, 2015, National Geographic, USA, 13th November, 2015, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/tasmanian-devil/
Unknown, 2008, Taronga Zoo, Australia, 13th November, 2015, https://taronga.org.au/animal/tasmanian-devil
Unknown, Unknown, Australia Zoo, Australia, 13th November, 2015, https://www.australiazoo.com.au/conservation/projects/tasmanian-devils/
Unknown, 25th March, 2010, Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Australia, 13th November, 2015, http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/tasdevil.nsf/thedisease/bd2717c762779ee8ca2576f1001d0110
Vanessa Scandizzo and Chris Coupland, September 2005, Richmond College, Australia, 16th November, 2015, http://nswfmpa.org/Husbandry%20Manuals/Published%20Manuals/Mammalia/Tasmanian%20Devil.pdf
Unknown, Unknown, Taronga Zoo, Australia, 16th November, 2015, https://taronga.org.au/animals/breeding-programs/australian-breeding-programs/tasmanian-devil-breeding-program