How many Tasmanian devils are in zoos?

Answer 1

Tasmanian devils are only found in the wild in the Australian island state of Tasmania. They are no longer found on the mainland continent, except in captive breeding programmes.

Numbers of the Tasmanian devil in the wild are dropping rapidly. According to Australia's Department of Primary Industries, data from December 2006 gives an estimate of the Tasmanian Devil's population at only 20,000 - 50,000 mature Tasmanian Devils. However, it is very hard to accurately determine numbers. Sightings have dropped by around 64%. The most recent estimate from June 2011 is that numbers across Tasmania are around 40,000, down from 100,000 prior to the outbreak of the devastating Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). Some sources suggest the figure is as low as 17,000.

There are three major problems the Tasmanian Devil faces:

• Devil Facial Tumour Disease
• Recent introduction of the red fox into Tasmania
• Roadkill - which accounts for an estimated 2000 deaths of Tasmanian Devils every year

Because of the impact of the DFTD, scientists have begun a captive breeding programme of Tasmanian devils. This involves taking healthy individuals from Tasmania and breeding them in special "wild" enclosures on the mainland. Figures for captive Tasmanian devils indicate that there are several hundred more Tasmanian devils in 18 zoos and sanctuaries across Australia. Captive breeding programmes in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales have seen considerable success. Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria, alone, has managed to maintain a Tasmanian devil population of around 120 over the past decade, meaning that new joeys are being successfully bred. The aim, ultimately, is to keep a steady population of some 500 Tasmanian devils in captive breeding, releasing healthy individuals into the wild.