Return of the Devils

This past September, conservationists transported 11 cylindrical containers from a breeding facility in the Australian state of New South Wales. Each carrier contained a single Tasmanian devil—a furry raccoon-sized creature that looks a bit like a cross between a rat and a teddy bear. The animals’ destination: the nearby 1,000-acre Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary. When workers opened the carrier doors, some of the devils bolted out to explore their new home in the wild. Others needed a gentle nudge. These new arrivals, along with 15 other members of their species released a few months earlier, are the first Tasmanian devils to roam mainland Australia in about 3,000 years.

Last September, conservationists moved 11 barrel-shaped containers from a breeding facility in the Australian state of New South Wales. Each carrier contained one Tasmanian devil. This furry raccoon-sized creature looks a little like a cross between a rat and a teddy bear. The animals were headed for the nearby 1,000-acre Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary. When workers opened the carrier doors, some of the devils ran out. They started to explore their new home in the wild. Others needed a gentle push. Fifteen other members of their species had been released a few months earlier. Together, these are the first Tasmanian devils to roam mainland Australia in about 3,000 years.

Tasmanian devils were once widespread across Australia (see Fossil Record). But a few thousand years ago, the mainland population died out. The disappearance of the continent’s largest native predatory mammal had a big impact on the ecosystem—the community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment. Conservationists hope that returning devils to the mainland will help restore balance to the forests these animals roamed for tens of thousands of years.

Tasmanian devils used to live across Australia (see Fossil Record). But a few thousand years ago, the mainland population died out. They were the largest native mammal on the continent that was also a predator. Their disappearance had a big effect on the ecosystem. That’s the community of living things and their physical environment. Conservationists are returning the devils to the mainland, where the animals roamed for thousands of years. They hope this will help restore balance to the forests.

Scientists don’t know exactly what drove Tasmanian devils to extinction on Australia’s mainland. But it’s likely that human hunters and a changing climate contributed. Wild dogs known as dingoes, which people brought to Australia from Asia several thousand years ago, may have also played a role. Dingoes might have attacked devils or outcompeted them for food.

By a few thousand years ago, only a single population of devils survived, on the island of Tasmania, which remained free of dingoes and may have had a less-dense human presence. But the island’s devils have struggled in recent decades. A deadly cancer, which can be passed between devils and causes large tumors to grow on their faces, has wiped out more than 80 percent of the population. The species is now endangered, or at risk of extinction in the wild.

Scientists aren’t sure why Tasmanian devils went extinct on Australia’s mainland. But human hunters and a changing climate were probably involved. Wild dogs known as dingoes may also have played a role. People brought them to Australia from Asia several thousand years ago. Dingoes might have attacked devils or eaten their food.

By a few thousand years ago, only one population of devils survived. They lived on the island of Tasmania. No dingoes lived there. And there may have been fewer people than on the mainland. But the island’s devils have struggled in recent decades. A deadly cancer has wiped out more than 80 percent of the population. It can pass between devils, and it causes large tumors to grow on their faces. The species is now endangered, or at risk of extinction in the wild.

Conservationists have been breeding devils in captivity to help the species survive. “The end goal has always been to release devils back into the wild,” says Dan Rumsey. He’s a wildlife expert with the conservation organization Aussie Ark, which is leading the reintroduction program. The group hopes that establishing a new population of wild Tasmanian devils on the mainland could provide additional insurance against extinction—and bring much-needed changes to Australia’s forests.

Conservationists have been breeding devils in captivity to help the species survive. “The end goal has always been to release devils back into the wild,” says Dan Rumsey. He’s a wildlife expert with the conservation organization Aussie Ark. It’s leading the program to return the animals to the mainland. The group hopes that this new population of wild Tasmanian devils could help prevent extinction. It could also bring much-needed changes to Australia’s forests.

At around 7 kilograms (15 pounds), Tasmanian devils are the world’s largest meat-eating marsupial—a mammal that carries its young in a pouch. Devils are active at night, and they sometimes hunt live prey. But their favorite way to dine is scavenging, or eating the remains of dead animals. Powerful neck and jaw muscles allow devils to tear apart food and crunch through bones. Feeding can be a noisy business, accompanied by shrieks and snarls as devils fight over a meal.

Tasmanian devils weigh about 7 kilograms (15 pounds). They’re the world’s largest meat-eating marsupial. This type of mammal carries its young in a pouch. Devils are active at night, and sometimes they hunt live prey. But their favorite way to feed is scavenging. They eat the remains of dead animals. With their powerful neck and jaw muscles, devils tear apart food and crunch through bones. Feeding can be noisy. The devils shriek and snarl as they fight over a meal.

Because devils are an ace cleanup crew, bringing them back to the mainland could fill an important role in the ecosystem—removing carcasses that might otherwise slowly rot. And the devils’ return could have another, even more important benefit: Over the past few centuries, Europeans introduced predators such as cats and foxes to Australia. These predators have devastated native mammal populations. But researchers in Tasmania have noticed that cats, for one, scale back their hunting when feisty devils are around, says David Hamilton, an ecologist at the University of Tasmania who studies devils.

Conservationists hope the return of devils to mainland Australia could stave off attacks by nonnative predators, giving threatened species like rabbit-sized bandicoots a chance to recover. “In the best-case scenario, we’d hope to see the ecosystem return to a natural balance with a healthy community of small mammals,” says Hamilton.

The devils are an ace clean-up crew. So returning them to the mainland could fill an important role in the ecosystem. Instead of dead animals slowly rotting, devils could remove them. And the devils’ return could have an even more important benefit. Over the past few centuries, Europeans brought predators such as cats and foxes to Australia. These predators have destroyed native mammal populations. But researchers in Tasmania have noticed that devils can change the behavior of other predators. For example, cats hunt less when scrappy devils are around, says ecologist David Hamilton. He studies devils at the University of Tasmania.

Conservationists hope the same will happen on mainland Australia. The return of devils could prevent attacks by non-native predators. Then threatened species like rabbit-sized bandicoots would have a chance to recover. “In the best-case scenario, we’d hope to see the ecosystem return to a natural balance with a healthy community of small mammals,” says Hamilton.

Since Tasmanian devils lived on the mainland for so long, conservationists are optimistic about their chances of a successful return. But adding any species to a complex ecosystem—even one where it has lived before—carries risks. So Aussie Ark is proceeding slowly and keeping close tabs on how things go. “The way they’re doing this, starting with a small trial in a controlled environment so they can keep an eye out for unforeseen effects, is really helpful,” says Hamilton.

Currently, the sanctuary’s borders are fenced off, keeping devils in and non-native species out. When the conservation team first reintroduced devils, it supplied kangaroo carcasses to make sure the animals had food as they settled in. But for the most part, the devils now fend for themselves. “They’re doing wonderfully,” says Rumsey. “They’re thriving in big open spaces and establishing homes for themselves. We’re seeing only good signs.”

Before releasing the devils, each animal was tested to make sure it was free of the contagious cancer. In addition to checking on the devils directly, the team installed cameras in the sanctuary to help project workers monitor them. Some of the devils were outfitted with GPS trackers so researchers can follow their movements. These devices allow scientists to keep tabs on the devils’ health, reproduction, and effects on other species in the sanctuary. If things go well, “there will be more releases, probably every year, and we’ll try to expand the sanctuary,” says Rumsey. With some luck and patience, the howls of the Tasmanian devil may once again echo through Australia’s forests.

Conservationists believe Tasmanian devils could return successfully to the mainland. The animals lived there for a long time in the past. But adding any species to a complex ecosystem carries risks. That’s true even if it lived there before. So Aussie Ark is going slowly and keeping close watch on how things go. “The way they’re doing this, starting with a small trial in a controlled environment so they can keep an eye out for unforeseen effects, is really helpful,” says Hamilton.

Right now, the sanctuary is fenced off. That keeps devils in and non-native species out. When the devils first returned, the conservation team wanted to make sure the animals had food. This would help them to settle in. So the team supplied dead kangaroos. But now, the devils mostly fend for themselves. “They’re doing wonderfully,” says Rumsey. “They’re thriving in big open spaces and establishing homes for themselves. We’re seeing only good signs.”

Before release, each animal was tested to make sure it didn’t have the contagious cancer. Now the team checks on the devils in person. They also placed cameras in the sanctuary to help workers watch them. Some of the devils were given GPS trackers. That way, researchers can follow their movements. These devices allow scientists to track the devils’ health, reproduction, and effects on other species in the sanctuary. If things go well, “there will be more releases, probably every year, and we’ll try to expand the sanctuary,” says Rumsey. It will take some luck and patience. But the howls of the Tasmanian devil may once again echo through Australia’s forests.