REWILDING | TASMANIAN DEVIL
TASMANIAN DEVIL. Source: Aussie Ark. www.aussieark.org.au
On World Wildlife Day, a host of conservation Success Stories. More than 1 million plant and animal species face extinction, experts say.
These conservation efforts have been successful, though and show that all is not lost.
The programmes include schemes to help jaguars, gibbons and the Tasmanian Devil.
Image: REUTERS / Jason Reed
The Tasmanian Devil was wiped out in mainland Australia around 3,000 years ago, mostly as a result of being outcompeted by other carnivores, such as the dingo. Confined to the island of Tasmania – hence the name – these small marsupials then suffered a 90% population collapse in the wake of the disease. Now, a charity called Aussie Ark has started to rewild parts of Australia with Tasmanian Devils.
Weighing up to 8kg, the Tasmanian Devil is about the size of a small dog. Yet it is an apex predator, not to mention the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial. Its presence as part of an ecosystem belies its small size, as it can help control the population and impact of cats and foxes that prey on other endangered species.
“In 100 years, we are going to be looking back at this day as the day that set in motion the ecological restoration of an entire country,” said Tim Faulkner, president of Aussie Ark.
03 May 2021
Sean Fleming Senior Writer, Formative Content. (On World Wildlife Day, a host of conservation success stories)