A message was delivered to the Devil Facial Tumour Disease 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 Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour. 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.
What form do the volunteer programs take? They fit into two broad categories:
- Field monitoring/wild management, in which volunteers help with trapping at various sites across Tasmania.
- Captive management, which involves animal-keeper duties for the small number of devils held in captivity for various research projects.
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:
The Devil Facial Tumour Disease Program
Department of Primary Industries and Water
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 Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water website: www.dpiw.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
Launched in late 2003, the Tasmanian Devil Appeal assists with vital research into the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease.
The appeal is administered under the auspices of the University of Tasmania Foundation, which nominates and allocates a number of scholarships and grants biannually through the Tasmanian Wildlife Research Advisory Committee (TWRAC).
Anyone can apply for a research grant. Scholarships are intended to support research towards Honours, Masters and Ph. D. degrees. All appeal funds are used to support research that is considered a high priority for conservation of the Tasmanian devil.
Donations to the Tasmanian Devil Appeal over $2 are tax deductible in Australia. Visit www.utas.edu.au/devilappeal or phone the University of Tasmania Foundation on 03 6226 2053 (International + 61 3 6226 2053) to find out more about the Tasmanian Devil Appeal and other ways you can donate to help save the Tasmanian devil.
