Volunteers are vital to achieving our goal of saving the Tasmanian devil.
University students, retirees, animal lovers and dedicated locals are among the hundreds of volunteers who have given their time and energy to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. You don’t need any qualifications. There are just a few requirements regarding health and mobility to consider.
Volunteers from as far away as the USA, Asia and Europe have worked alongside enthusiastic locals. Some stay for a few weeks – others remain dedicated for years.
See Tasmania’s wild natural beauty, actively help Tasmanian wildlife, and grow as a person.
Our wildlife management tasks fit into the broad categories of:
• field monitoring
• disease suppression.
A typical survey lasts approximately 11 - 12 days. While team leaders trap and release Tasmanian devils, volunteers assist with duties such as scrubbing and cleaning traps and scribing.
The days can be long, the weather unpredictable and the mobile phone coverage will be limited or non-existent. You will, however, four-wheel drive into breathtakingly beautiful places that very few people get to see.
View a short movie of Wildlife Biologist Phil Wise cleaning a devil trap:
Field monitoring
You will work on beautiful farming properties on the northwest coast and near Mt Field National Park, selective forestry areas across the State and Mt William National Park (on the north-east tip of the State).
Disease suppression
Disease suppression trials are ongoing on the Forestier-Tasman Peninsulas. These trips cover many different locations across peninsulas famous for their natural beauty. You may want to schedule time to visit world renowned heritage sites such as Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck while you are in the area.
Wildlife biologist Phil Wise demonstrates the skills required by our eager volunteers.
Testimonials
Katherine Ashley from Newport, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia – July 2010
I wanted to write to you and say how much I enjoyed volunteering for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.
Having already been involved with various volunteer placements I would have to say that working with the Disease Suppression Project out at Bangor has been the most rewarding so far.
I found the Program highly organised and the duties I was involved in extremely satisfying. Every staff member was so welcoming and enthusiastic; it really was a pleasure to work with everyone.
A special mention goes to Phil and Holly who made such an effort to make me feel welcome and really involved me and demonstrated the various skills required in such a professional manner.They also made it a lot of fun when we were relaxing at the end of a busy day - as the photo shows!
Moira Graham is a volunteer guide at Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria, Australia – December 2009
I just wanted to put into writing my many thanks for another wonderful trip with the 'Save the Tasmanian Devil' team.
I learn something new every trip and come away feeling fulfilled and that I have helped in a small way to hopefully save the devil from extinction.
The working environment could not be much better, I just love Tassie. I’ve only done one trip where I saw too much...around the Arthur river for a juvenile intake in Jan 2008. Devastation!
Please thank everyone involved. I hope to be invited back next year.
Paul Eason from Werribee, Victoria, Australia – November 2008
Thank you to all involved in placing me as a volunteer on the recent Bangor devil trapping survey. It was a fantastic experience and one I would like to repeat at some time next year if possible.
As a regular "conservation volunteer" having participated in projects totalling more than 6 months in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and most Australian states I rate this experience with the best I have had.
During my conservation volunteering I have experienced many team leaders from a wide range of backgrounds and understand the critical role they play in the success of such programs. I have never had a better team leader on any conservation project. Her friendly personality, knowledge and ability to communicate this to laymen (and women) helped make this wonderful experience all the more rewarding.
I wish you all well in your efforts to combat this nasty disease and ensuring a healthy population of these fascinating animals in Tasmania. Hopefully I will be able to make a further contribution.
Sarah Pike from Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA – November 2008
G'day! (Did I say that right?)
I got home to 25 degrees F or - 3 degrees C!!! A bit rude to come home to after that very hot Friday in Hobart.
Your island is one of the most lovely places on earth! I cannot thank the Program enough for accepting me to volunteer. My team leader was so knowledgeable, patient, encouraging and very supportive of her inexperienced volunteers!
Helping the research program has truly enriched my life experiences in so many varied ways.
I thank you so very much.
Willemina Watts from George Town, Tasmania, Australia - 2007
A long-time volunteer from George Town, Willemina helped with field monitoring at Woolnorth, in the far north-west of the state, in 2007. This is her perspective on the experience:
The Tasmanian devil in its natural environment may not survive – it’s a good reason for getting involved. This unique animal lives in a wonderful wild landscape and a habitat filled with eagles, ravens, mosses, lichens and wondrous sunrises and sunsets.
The sadness I felt when I first observed a diseased animal was gut wrenching.
The days are set in routine and great attention is paid to hygiene and keeping a captive animal’s stress to the minimum. That’s all for the devils. The team work and the volunteers is another matter. It is full on comradeship and a stretching of minds and challenging views. It’s great.
Working in an extraordinary wilderness and a once in a life time opportunity for getting up close and personal with a Tasmanian devil - it can’t get much better than that.
I wanted to write to you and say how much I enjoyed volunteering for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.
I just wanted to put into writing my many thanks for another wonderful trip with the 'Save the Tasmanian Devil' team.
