Conserving the Tasmanian Devil on Maria Island with Ben Brown

In the early 1970s, Maria Island was declared a national park, with a bold purpose: to provide sanctuary for Tasmania's rare and endangered wildlife.

"The idea was to create a safe place for rare and endangered wildlife from mainland Tasmania," explains Ben Brown, General Manager of The Maria Island Walk. Species such as the Forester Kangaroo and Cape Barren Goose were introduced due to declining mainland populations.

The Tasmanian Devil joined the list of species on the island in 2012, as an insurance population against Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Researchers first noticed this disease in 1996 after photographic evidence and farmer reports of declining devil populations surfaced in the Mount William National Park area. This fatal and contagious cancer spreads between Tasmanian Devils through biting, particularly during fights and mating.

The safeguard program on the island started as a captive-bred population that has since become truly wild. "In the early days, the numbers went up to around 120," Brown recalls. "Now the devil team manages the population around 70, which they've found is a good carrying capacity for the island."

Visitors have a unique chance to observe these devils in the wild. "They often use paths and roads, so we occasionally see them while walking. We've also had them near our camp at White Gums Beach, and around Darlington, near Bernacchi House," Brown says.

Guests have even contributed to research. "In the early years, we partnered with a Green Guardians program. Guests on our walks helped collect scat, which was analysed to see what the devils were eating, including pademelons, possums, and some shorebirds," Brown recounts.

Through careful management and monitoring, Maria Island provides a vital refuge for Tasmanian Devils, significantly contributing to the conservation of this endangered species.