The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program established an Insurance Population in 2005, gathering animals from areas of the State where there had not been evidence of DFTD. As at January 2010, the Insurance Population had grown to 277 disease-free Tasmanian devils.
The animals in the Insurance Population could play an important role, if ever needed, in helping to re-establish healthy wild populations in Tasmania.
Tasmanian devils in the Insurance Population were initially isolated and housed in purpose-built quarantine enclosures before being sent to wildlife institutions in mainland Australia approved by the Zoo and Aquarium Association. The decision to remove Tasmanian devils to the mainland of Australia was based on the need to ensure that we had a healthy population of devils that was at absolutely no risk of infection from diseased wild devils. This national conservation effort has only been possible because of the expertise and passion of the zoos and wildlife parks that have expended a great deal of time and resources in setting up and maintaining Insurance Population facilities.
As it became clear that DFTD was not airborne, and therefore the risk of infection to captive populations was much lower than first thought, the Program instituted a locally-based Insurance Population that is housed at facilities in Tasmania.
To date the Insurance Population consists of Zoo and Aquarium Association members, which insures that the population is managed to the standards of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Insurance Population members
The Program's Insurance Population currently comprises:
On advice from the Captive Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) and the Zoo and Aquarium Association, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program has determined that it needs an effective Insurance Population of around 500 breeding devils to maintain the genetic diversity and behavioural integrity of the species over a period of 50 years. This target number is only required in the event that no disease free Tasmanian devils are available to supplement the Insurance Population. This may mean having as many as 1,500 devils being intensively managed in captivity - a massive task.
Free Range Enclosures (FREs)
Free Range Enclosures (FREs) are one of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program's favoured options for an economically and behaviourally sustainable alternative to intensive management. The first of the Devil Island FREs was constructed on land donated by the Devil Island Project in 2008.
There was very little known about managing Tasmanian devils in this way so the Program's experts began working through issues relating to the size of the enclosures, den construction, food sources and the numbers and sex ratio of animals to house for the best outcome.
In partnership with Devil Island Project, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program constructed two new FREs in 2010. The first to be completed was populated with devils from the Program's captive management facility in Cressy on 15 December 2010. Senior Keeper, David Schaap, said, "This is the first time that these devils have been in an area larger than their pens at Cressy. It was great to see them running off further than they've ever had the opportunity to do."
The third Devil Island FRE is now also completed.
Proposed Maria Island Translocation
One of the options that the Program is exploring is the translocation of a population of Tasmanian devils to islands off the Tasmanian mainland. Maria Island has been chosen as the first proposed island translocation for a number of reasons, including its large area, the fact that the habitat appears to be suitable for Tasmanian devils and that it is solely managed by the State Government.
The Program is currently preparing a proposal for submission to Federal and State Government approval processes. In line with this a number of surveys of the island's fauna have been carried out over the past months.
If the project gains government approval an initial population of devils of various ages, typical of what you would find in a wild population, would be released on the island. Around 50 devils would be introduced initially to form the nucleus of a viable breeding population. Before, during and after the initial release the Program would closely observe, monitor and manage the welfare of the devils and their impact on the flora and fauna on the island.
Virtual islands
The Program is looking at the feasibility of ‘virtual islands' - fencing off peninsulas or other geographically suitable areas of land in Tasmania.
A feasibility study is currently under way to determine whether a fence to isolate a healthy population of Tasmanian devils in the State's far north west is viable. A project such as this involves a rigourous investigation into the impacts of such a fence on existing flora, fauna and agribusiness. It would also constitute a substantial investment in infrastructure and would go through a series of approvals and protocols to ensure its efficacy.
There are several areas in Tasmania that may lend themselves to use as virtual islands for the protection of healthy populations or for the reintroduction of healthy animals to areas that have been decimated by Devil Facial Tumour Disease.
Interlinked strategies for Insurance Population
The Insurance Population concept and parameters grew out of an international workshop held in Hobart in July 2008. Read more
The third Devil Island free range enclosure was officially opened today. Minister Brian Wightman said the 22 hectare enclosure is an example of how the State Government, the community-based Devil Island Project and local entrepreneurs like Jan Cameron can work together to save the Tasmanian devil. read more...
Tasmania Zoo donates land for the fourth Devil Island free range enclosure, joining the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program's official, nationally-integrated Insurance Population. read more...
A 22ha Free Range Enclosure (FRE), housing 18 Insurance Population devils, was opened by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program in partnership with the Devil Island Project Inc. in February 2011.
read more...
Devil Island Project Inc and contractor Steve Bantick were recognised with an innovation design award for the construction of the fences at the new Tasmanian FREs read more...
Two Tasmanian devils - "Michelle" and "Tilley" - that went to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo in 2006 as founders of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Insurance Population have returned home to Tasmania. read more...
The annual Tasmanian Devil Insurance Population Workshop brings together people from institutions all over Australia that house Tasmanian devils in a nationwide Insurance Population. read more...
A population of healthy Tasmanian devils is returning to north-eastern Tasmania. This is the very region where, in 1996, the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) was first observed. read more...
populations in Tasmania.
To date the Insurance Population consists of Zoo and Aquarium Association members, which insures that the population is managed to the standards of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Free Range Enclosures (FREs) are one of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program's favoured options for an economically and behaviourally sustainable alternative to intensive management. The first of the Devil Island FREs was constructed on land donated by the 
In partnership with Devil Island Project, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program constructed two new FREs in 2010. The first to be completed was populated with devils from the Program's captive management facility in Cressy on 15 December 2010. Senior Keeper, David Schaap, said, "This is the first time that these devils have been in an area larger than their pens at Cressy. It was great to see them running off further than they've ever had the opportunity to do."
The Tasmanian devils at Trowunna Wildlife Park have been incorporated into the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s Insurance Population.
The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program hosted a visit by members of the Devil Islands Projects Board. 
The third Devil Island free range enclosure was officially opened today. Minister Brian Wightman said the 22 hectare enclosure is an example of how the State Government, the community-based Devil Island Project and local entrepreneurs like Jan Cameron can work together to save the Tasmanian devil. 
Tasmania Zoo donates land for the fourth Devil Island free range enclosure, joining the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program's official, nationally-integrated Insurance Population. 
A 22ha Free Range Enclosure (FRE), housing 18 Insurance Population devils, was opened by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program in partnership with the Devil Island Project Inc. in February 2011.
Devil Island Project Inc and contractor Steve Bantick were recognised with an innovation design award for the construction of the fences at the new Tasmanian FREs 
Two Tasmanian devils - "Michelle" and "Tilley" - that went to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo in 2006 as founders of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Insurance Population have returned home to Tasmania. 
Funding has been provided through the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program to three wildlife parks in Tasmania and NSW. 
The annual Tasmanian Devil Insurance Population Workshop brings together people from institutions all over Australia that house Tasmanian devils in a nationwide Insurance Population. 
A population of healthy Tasmanian devils is returning to north-eastern Tasmania. This is the very region where, in 1996, the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) was first observed. 