A message was delivered to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, several days before Christmas:
'My brother has just asked me what I would like for Christmas?' the email read. 'What I would like most is for him to donate the money he wants to spend on a gift to an organization, to help with the research relating to the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Is there a fund set up for donations? My brother lives in North America, so online would be the best option for him.'
Happily, there is such a fund set up for donations.
Volunteers
Volunteers really make a difference. Hundreds of people from as far away as the USA, Europe and Asia have already joined the Devil Facial Tumour Disease Team's volunteer programs.
Some stay for one or two weeks while others, particularly locals, remain involved for years.
Volunteers get involved in field monitoring and wild management of devils, helping with trapping at various sites across Tasmania.
If this sounds like something that might interest you, volunteer registration forms and a full list of trapping dates for 2007 are available by contacting:
Save the Tasmanian Devil Program
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
134 Macquarie Street
GPO Box 44
HOBART TAS 7001
Call the Devil Disease Hotline on 03 6233 2006
Phone: International + 61 3 6233 2006
Or email: DevilDisease.Enquiries@dpiw.tas.gov.au
You can also find out more information on volunteering on the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment website: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/tasmaniandevil
6 ways to help the tasmanian devil
Investigating the tumour and its chromosomes, looking for clues to resistance
Keeping some area or areas of Tasmania free from the disease i.e. wild management
Maintaining backup captive populations of devils in Tasmania as 'insurance'
Developing a diagnostic test for the disease
Developing a vaccine against the disease
Monitoring changes in populations affected by the disease
Contribute to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal is the fundraising arm of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program – the official strategy of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.
This committee supports conservation and management strategies for the Tasmanian devil, as well as world-wide research efforts.
David Rowell, the chair of the Appeal Committee, said the focus of the fundraising was to keep the Tasmanian devil in the wild.
“Anything less and we have failed,” he said. “It’s a huge challenge, but it’s achievable.”
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal Committee is part of the University of Tasmanian Foundation. Committee members are:
Professor Jim Reid - UTAS Dean, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology.
Ms Onnie Byers – IUCN Conservation Breeding Specialist Group.
Ms Katie McNamara – 2000 Young Achiever of the Year.
Mr Mark Flanigan – Commonwealth Director of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Strategic Approvals and Legislation Branch, Approvals and Wildlife Division).
Mr Brian Hartnett – UTAS Foundation Board Director.
Ms Penny Wells – Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment (Resource management and Conservation Division).
Ms Juanita von Stieglitz, Tourism Tasmanian Board.
Donations to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal over $2 are tax deductible in Australia. Visit www.utas.edu.au/devilappeal or phone the University of Tasmanian Foundation on 03 6226 1920 (International +61 3 6226 1920) to find out more about the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal.
